World’s first LEED platinum hostel in Chattanooga
Chattanooga is at it again with the world’s first and only LEED Platinum-certified hostel, designed by local architects Blythe Bailey and Taylor Bowers of River Street Architecture and built by Collier Construction. Crash Pad uses reclaimed wood and bricks from existing structures on the site, a precast insulated concrete wall system, and a green roof. LEDs, a solar panel array, low-flow fixtures, and a greywater filtration system also help to create an energy-efficient building with less water consumption than with traditional systems. “Being a green business doesn’t mean just building a green building”, says co-owner Dan Rose in The Crash Pad’s original short film, Building Our Future, “it comes down to our operations”. Part of Crash Pad’s protocol is to educate patrons on green building and sustainability. Crash Pad uses a Green Guide and plaques throughout the building to create an experiential learning experience on green building products and sustainable design in action. Crash pad also promotes sustainability by featuring many local artists, from the art on the property, to the beds and furniture, which were handcrafted by Haskel Sears Design. Crash Pad offers three types of accommodations to best suit travelers’ budgets, travel preferences, and the size of travel party. The most basic lodging is a single bunk. Each of the six Super Bunk areas feature four beds, making a total of 24 beds throughout the hostel. The handcrafted beds offer a sturdy and quiet wrap-around wooden enclosure with privacy curtains. Each bed also has a reading lamp and a fan, plus two extra outlets. There is ample, lock able storage space beneath each bed. If guests want more privacy, Crash pad also offers five private rooms. Each features a handcrafted queen bed with built in night stand, and a beautiful concrete sink made by Set In Stone. If you guests want the best of both worlds, Crash Pad features the Super Queen. The same handcrafted queen bed sits beneath a vaulted Super Bunk, and it comes with all of the amenities that you’d find in one of the private rooms. There are separate men’s and women’s restrooms on each of the two floors; each restroom has a pair of private toilet and shower stalls and two sinks. The entire building is professionally cleaned seven days a week. To learn more about Crash Pad, visit crashpadchattanooga.com
