Case Study: Residence Inn

New construction kicked off on a Residence Inn nestled in a busy commuter section of Northeast Atlanta. The hotel, in the Decatur Emory area, would offer 125 guest rooms and a number of amenities including a spacious outdoor patio and sitting area. As the project neared completion, an inspection identified a need for an emergency access lane between the hotel building and the adjacent property.  

Vehicles could pull up to the building but they were unable to get close enough to each side without driving on the grass. Hotel parking and drop off/delivery areas did not allow access on all sides of the building. In order to meet regulations, the hotel would have to provide access for fire trucks and emergency vehicles. The landscape company was in charge of construction on the project and contacted NDS to help identify and implement a solution with its permeable paver product line.

NDS Pavers Prove Tough Enough

The NDS spec manager moved quickly to provide a rapid response for this special project, which was critical given the hotel was set to open immediately. After evaluating the site, the NDS spec team determined an access road utilizing 2,520 sq. ft. of NDS TuffTrack reinforced pavers placed adjacent to the hotel would create a drivable grass surface, addressing the accessibility problem and ensuring the hotel would pass inspection – without a need to add more hardscape. 

The strongest paver on the market, TuffTrack grass pavers would support the H-20 and HS-20 loads needed to handle emergency vehicles while maintaining a permeable surface area. This solution would also eliminate or reduce runoff that could pose a problem with the addition of another concrete drive on the property.  

Manufactured in rigid 24" square panels that easily lock together, these pavers offer maximum strength and stabilization to support heavy vehicles like fire trucks. Featuring high compressive strength, TuffTrack pavers sit on a stone base, which provides much needed infiltration for stormwater. 

Working closely with supply partners was key to keeping construction on track. The distributor SiteOne rushed delivery of the grass pavers to the hotel’s landscape contractor, who was also installing additional irrigation. The construction team was trained by NDS personnel on the installation process for the grass pavers, which they placed at the same time the irrigation solution was added along the building. 

Grass Placed in Time for Grand Opening 

Once the product was successfully installed, sod was used on top of the pavers instead of seed in time to meet the grand opening date. The customer appreciated NDS’ quick response, immediate availability and delivery of the product, and the proven effectiveness of TuffTrack pavers’ use in fire lanes. The team worked together to ensure the hotel was able to open on time, meet relevant safety requirements and pass inspection.