NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Property developer Lendlease says it has opened the first hotel in the country to be completely constructed using Cross Laminated Timber (CLT), the Candlewood Suites on Redstone Arsenal.

The project, a partnership between the United States Army, Lendlease and IHG Army Hotels, used the same strong timber and panels that make possible the wood skyscrapers that have captured the interest of architects and builders aroound the world.

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The 62,688 square foot structure includes 92 guest rooms, and utilized 1,200 CLT wall panels and 200,000 CLT fasteners. It took the 11-man Lendlease crew 10 working weeks to erect the building, which is a 40 percent reduction in crew size and man hours, and 37 percent faster than conventional framing materials and methods.

"The use of CLT and other integrated methodologies has made it possible to 'do more with less' by constructing projects faster, with less labor and safer than conventional materials and methods," said Denis Hickey, CEO for Lendlease Americas. "Lendlease has pioneered the use of this material in Australia and the UK, and we're excited to expand our CLT portfolio into the Americas region."

Part of the Privatization of Army Lodging (PAL) Program, Lendlease is the owner, developer, design-builder and asset manager for the Candlewood Suites on Redstone Arsenal, and the exclusive developer for the Department of Defense's only lodging privatization program. IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is the hotel operator. Lendlease has delivered 14 Holiday Inn Express and eight Candlewood Suites hotels throughout the United States, including the 310-room Candlewood Suites on Joint Base San Antonio, the largest in the world.