Suffolk Construction to renovate 55,500 s/f for HI-Boston; LEED certified hostel

Hostelling International Boston (HI-Boston) has selected Suffolk Construction to renovate an historic building at 25 Stuart St., adjacent to Chinatown and the Theatre District, to become Hostelling International's newest facility in a major U.S. city. HI-Boston chose Suffolk Cons. after issuing a request for proposals and competitive bids. The New Boston Hostel project involves the renovation of 55,500 s/f, in the six-story Dill Building, which is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The facility, designed by Boston architectural firms Bergmeyer Associates and Stegman + Associates, will play a role as the first LEED certified hostel in the U.S. Designs incorporate many green technologies, including a green roof, green elevators and solar hot water heating. The building itself will serve as a "green classroom" for 46,000 annual visitors, 60% from outside the U.S. and many visiting Boston for the first time. The new facility will provide further evidence of Hostelling's contribution to sustainable world travel. HI- Boston currently operates a hostel on Hemenway St. in the city's Fenway neighborhood. The new hostel will nearly double its capacity. That facility will remain operational until the renovation is complete in spring of 2012. "We are pleased to be managing construction of this beautiful building that will incorporate sustainable design," says Angus Leary, Suffolk vice president for education. "This facility will add to Boston's downtown area and increase the current economic impact by hostel guests." HI- Boston estimates that its guests will pump more than $16 million into the local economy in direct spending. "We are thrilled to be partnering with Suffolk on this vital project, which will infuse energy, economy, and excitement to the midtown cultural district. They bring the depth of expertise we need to assure a quality renovation is completed within our budget and timetable," said Deborah Ruhe, executive director of Hostelling International New England. HI-Boston brings the world to Boston, fostering critical connections between the city and international travelers. The organization's mission is to promote global awareness, cultural understanding, education, and community participation through hostelling. Founded in 1983, HI-Boston is an affiliate of Hostelling International USA. HI-Boston provides comprehensive, safe and affordable travel packages and is at the forefront of sustainable ecotourism. Rooted in education, HI-Boston is a dedicated member of the local community, facilitating thousands of hours of community service and conducting numerous programs annually. Suffolk is one of the leading privately held construction management firms in the country, with main offices in the northeast, mid-Atlantic, southeast and west coast. Suffolk's approach, capabilities and offerings are transforming the way clients achieve success in the construction industry. Suffolk has a commitment and passion for environmentally friendly business practices and sustainable building, a focus on state-of-the-art technologies to support key processes, such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), and a creative and comprehensive approach to preconstruction planning that has resulted in higher quality and lower overall costs for clients.