“Design a Treehouse” Winners!

In Science World’s January 15, 2018, issue, we asked students to enter our Design a Treehouse contest. Today, we’re announcing the grand-prize winner and the runner-up selected by Nelson Treehouse and Supply. The company also provided the prize packages, including books, drafting pencils, and other Nelson Treehouse items, for the winners.

For the contest, students were challenged to design an innovative treehouse using information from the article Tricked-Out Treehouses and their own research. Students wrote an essay explaining their concept and included drawings, or photos of small-scale models of their designs. Check out how the winners imagined their treehouses!

Cedric designed an amazing treehouse called The Education Station. Cedric envisioned his treehouse, supported by two sturdy maple trees, as a place where students can go to make learning fun—and comfy—with plenty of books and beanbag chairs. The treehouse features a first floor of discovery, dedicated to biology and natural wonders, and a second floor for reading and research. Cedric even thought of including a motorized cable winch to allow his school’s therapy dog to visit.

“We were very impressed by the model Cedric created, as well as the thorough breakdown of the design elements in his essay,” says Daryl McDonald, a project manager who has designed and constructed many treehouses for Nelson Treehouse. “The design was very innovative and original. We also appreciated some of the extras, such as the solar panels and the dog elevator!”

Skylah says she loves to dance, so her treehouse design featured a dance studio. She also used a sustainable material—bamboo—for many features, including a ballet bar and a ladder. In addition, she placed windows strategically to provide as much natural lighting as possible. Skylah says she is dedicating her treehouse design to her grandfather, who recently passed away.

“We really enjoyed Skylah’s stated use of the treehouse as a dance studio and her thoughtful use of bamboo as a building material,” says McDonald. “Her drawings, both the plan view and the elevation, were spectacular.”