Project of the Month: Hostelling International to open LEED registered hostel in Boston in time for summer tourism season

With a nod to sustainability and the modern budget traveler, Hostelling International USA will officially open its new hostel this June as the first LEED certified accommodations in the city, and the facility is aiming to be the first LEED Gold hostel in the country. The new hostel will be located in downtown at the intersection of the midtown cultural district, theatre district, and Chinatown. The hostel will feature 480 beds with great city views. Prices will start at $29 per guest per night, enticing budget travelers to experience Boston's culture and history. And gone are the uncomfortable communal style bathrooms of the past as guests will enjoy 100 private bathrooms adjacent to each room. The adaptive re-use of the building will help to integrate new and efficient green technologies and extraordinary features including recycled building materials, green elevators, and Energy Star appliances and equipment, all of which cater to the growing international trend toward more environmentally-conscious travel. The new building is also on track to become LEED Gold certified with the pending installation of proposed solar thermal panels once the required $90,000 in funding is raised. "Our new hostel will promote eco-tourism globally. Guests in our facility will use less building energy and have less of an impact on the environment, which was one of our main goals when drafting the plan for our new hostel," said Deborah Ruhe, executive director of Hostelling International New England. "And whether they come as part of a personal journey, or part of a class trip, our guests will enjoy safe, affordable accommodations." The impressive lobby, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a coffee shop, will support Hostelling International's mission of promoting intercultural exchange between guests and the community by providing a place to congregate and connect. The building will also feature a community room which will be available for use by the public. This space will serve as a platform for educational and service programs such as Alternative Spring Break which gives volunteers from high schools and universities across the country the opportunity to visit the city and perform community service at local non-profits. Hostelling International Boston will welcome more than 46,000 guests annually, 60% of which will be international visitors, and will target those between the ages of 18-30. The influx of hostellers is expected to generate more than $16 million of direct spending by tourists at city restaurants, entertainment venues, and sightseeing spots across the city, greatly enhancing the local economy. Suffolk Construction is the construction management firm overseeing the development. The project involves the renovation of a 55,500 s/f six-story building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hostel is being designed by Boston architectural firms Bergmeyer Associates and Stegman + Associates. The new Boston hostel will replace the current Boston hostel located in Boston's Fenway neighborhood. Hostelling International Boston is a division of Hostelling International USA and Hostelling International New England, all of which are part of a worldwide, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the cultural interchange by facilitating worldwide travel. Project team includes: General Contractor: Suffolk Construction Architect: Bergmeyer Associates, Inc. Architect: Stegman & Associates Developer: GLC Development Resources, LLC