‘Carbon-Positive’ Populus Hotel Opens in Denver

Photo credit: Steve Hall

Now open in Denver is the “carbon-positive” (or perhaps more accurately, “climate-positive”) Populus, a 265-room urban hotel that blends nature-inspired design with environmentally conscious hospitality in its aim to put the health of the planet first. Developed by Urban Villages and managed by the Aparium Hotel Group, the property actively gives back to the environment by planting a tree for every night’s stay — allowing guests to be a part of its environmental stewardship.

“The opening of Populus marks an incredibly significant milestone and represents a new model of environmentally conscious hospitality that will forever change the guest experience for mindful travelers, while adding vibrancy to the city of Denver,” said Jon Buerge, president of Urban Villages. “We are excited to watch Populus come to life as the center of a thriving community, becoming everything from the new neighborhood hotspot to a must-visit hotel destination, all while inspiring the industry to rethink how hotels can prioritize the health of the planet in a positive, engaging and meaningful way.” 

Conscientious architecture and design

Populus was designed by the architecture and urban design firm Studio Gang, founded and led by Jeanne Gang, a MacArthur fellow, drawing from the growth processes of Colorado’s native aspen tree — Populus Tremuloides — which Jeanne Gang studied while hiking in the state.

The texture and pattern of Populus’ façade perform efficiently in Denver’s varied climate, with “lids” over each window extending slightly outward to shade the interior of the building. The Aspen-eye windows change in size and shape to reflect the public or private nature of various spaces. On the ground floor, the 30-foot windows frame entrances and views into the lobby and Pasque restaurant. The guest rooms feature views of the nearby State Capitol, Civic Center Park and the Rocky Mountains.

A variety of trees and local vegetation have been planted in the rooftop garden and on the streetscape around the hotel — both designed by Denver-based landscape architecture firm Superbloom. The green roof is a four-season garden filled with perennial trees, shrubs and species that support biodiversity, while the canopy of trees surrounding the hotel provides a cooling effect in the harsh sun.

All interiors, from the materials to the furniture and art, were designed to evoke the natural world while minimizing the building’s carbon footprint through the use of innovative, consciously sourced materials. For example, the wood slats in the lobby ceiling are made from reclaimed wooden snow fencing in Wyoming, the guest room carpeting is made from recycled materials that biodegrade in landfills, and many guest room headboards were created from fallen beetle-killed pine trees.

The hotel’s art collection was curated by Colorado artist and environmental activist Katherine Homes, with each piece carefully selected to reflect the local surroundings. Highlights include a commissioned painting by Cheyenne and Arapaho artist Brent Learned; local bird songs in the elevators from conservationist and natural sound recording artist, Jacob Job, who recorded in nearby Rocky Mountain National Park; and pressed native wildflowers in each of the guest rooms, handpicked by Flowers of the Press to bring the essence of Colorado summer into the hotel year-round.

Sustainable dining and events

All-day dining is available at Pasque on the first floor, dishing up seasonal cuisine that highlights the region’s plant-based ingredients alongside conscientiously sourced meats and seafood. The ground floor also is where guests will find the Little Owl coffee bar. Up on the rooftop, Stellar Jay, an open-air restaurant serves shared plates of wild game, fresh seafood and seasonal produce.

The hotel features 3,135 square feet of event spaces. On the top floor, a series of hospitality suites are available for gatherings, affording views of Denver’s parks, downtown skyline and the Rockies.

Aiming to redefine eco-conscious hospitality

As the first hotel in the country to bill itself as “carbon positive,” Populus goes beyond net-zero. Already, the hotel’s embodied carbon footprint, has been reduced through a combination of sustainable design and construction techniques — including the use of low-carbon concrete, an insulated façade system and GFRC rainscreen, and the decision to not create on-site parking. Populus is further offsetting its carbon footprint through a hands-on reforestation effort in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies. The first of these efforts included planting more than 70,000 trees over 172 acres in Gunnison County, Colo., in summer 2022 in partnership with One Tree Planted. Populus also collaborates with local farms to promote regenerative practices, uses 100 percent renewable electricity and turns all food waste into compost to be returned to local farmers.