BOSTON, Mass.—Upon receiving its recent LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Hostelling International Boston (HI-Boston) became the City of Boston’s first accommodation provider to achieve LEED Certification. Since its opening in June 2012, this repurposed historic building at the cross section of Chinatown, Downtown Crossing, and the Theater District has since welcomed more than 200,000 travelers from more than 85 countries.
“HI-Boston is raising the bar for the hospitality industry in Boston,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “The city is attracting more and more young people, and I’m thrilled that HI-USA is providing green accommodations for our visitors.”
Constructed in the historic Dill Building (1886-1888), the project is an example of historic reuse. Reclaimed materials were used throughout the space, including stairwell floor joists turned into tables. Furniture in the kitchen and dining space include chairs made from recycled Coca Cola bottles and recycled aluminum tables.
Facility and operational efforts include LED lights and automatic timers, low-flow faucets and toilets, and ENERGY star appliances. Elevators are 50 percent more energy efficient than standard elevators and the housekeeping department uses an Ozone system eliminating the use of hot water when laundering linens and towels.
“This is a very exciting achievement for HI-Boston and HI-USA,” says CEO Russ Hedge. “When we envisioned building a new hostel, we were committed to opening an environmentally-friendly property. We exceeded expectations with the silver certification level and are very happy to bring this beautiful green hostel to the city of Boston.”
HI-Boston has received a number of awards for architecture and green design, including the Award for Innovation in Green Design—Building Category from the Massachusetts Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as Boston’s Greenovate Award.
