Candlewood Suites Hotel – Joint Base Lewis McChord
Developer/Owner: Rest Easy, LLC
Contractor: LendLease
Architect: Charles Starck, RA, AIA
Engineer: SCA Consulting Engineers
Installer: Cascadia Structural Timber Solutions
SmartLam Customer: Lendlease
A Landmark in Mass Timber Construction for Military Lodging
The Candlewood Suites Hotel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord is a pioneering project that sets a new precedent for military lodging facilities, demonstrating exceptional efficiency, sustainability, and resilience. As the third mass timber hotel designed and completed by Lendlease under the Privatized Army Lodging (PAL) program, this five-story, 74,000-square-foot hotel prominently showcased the extensive benefits of mass timber construction on a large scale.
Notably, this was the first hotel to utilize American-produced Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) supplied by SmartLam North America, based in Columbia Falls, Montana, marking a significant milestone in domestic mass timber adoption within high-security environments.
Project Overview & Design Philosophy
The Candlewood Suites Hotel, completed in 2019, was designed to meet the highly restrictive Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection (ATFP) requirements essential for military structures, setting a new standard for military lodging efficiency. The design leverages mass timber to create a modern, yet resilient, environment. Its construction methodology integrated prefabricated bath PODs and mechanical ducting, leading to significant project schedule savings. The successful implementation of a mass timber structure highlights its capability to deliver both architectural quality and stringent security compliance within a demanding construction timeline.
Sustainability & Innovation
This project stands as a testament to the innovative potential of mass timber in achieving both ambitious construction schedules and sustainability goals. The use of mass timber, including CLT from SmartLam, contributed to a streamlined construction process that was completed 37% faster than conventional light gauge metal (LGM) framing. This efficiency, combined with the integration of prefabricated components, resulted in a 20% overall project schedule savings. Beyond speed, the project demonstrated mass timber’s viability in high-security applications while inherently contributing to a more sustainable build through the use of a renewable resource.
A New Standard for Military Construction
The Candlewood Suites Hotel represents a groundbreaking achievement in military construction, demonstrating how mass timber can deliver superior results in highly regulated environments. The project’s innovative approach extended to workforce development, with a crew of just 11 workers—seven of whom were veterans trained on-site—achieving a 40% reduction in crew size and man-hours compared to other PAL hotels of similar scope. This not only underscores the efficiency of mass timber but also highlights its potential to expand workforce opportunities for veterans in a growing industry. The hotel sets a new benchmark for combining efficiency, security, and sustainable building practices in critical infrastructure.
Project Highlights
- Military Innovation: The project demonstrated mass timber’s viability in high-security applications while significantly improving construction efficiency, meeting strict ATFP requirements.
- Workforce Development: Pioneered on-site training for veterans in mass timber construction, expanding skilled workforce opportunities in a growing industry.
- Construction Efficiency: Achieved 37% faster completion and 40% reduction in crew size/man-hours compared to conventional methods, with an overall 20% project schedule savings due to mass timber and prefabrication.
- American-Made CLT: The first hotel in the U.S. to utilize domestically produced Cross-Laminated Timber, supplied by SmartLam North America.