Populus
Denver, CO
A Hotel Rooted in a Reverence for Nature
Completed in 2024, Populus is a new 265-room hotel inspired by nature. From biophilic architecture, natural materials, original art, and seasonal cuisine, there is a love for the natural world in every detail. Populus was created by Urban Villages, designed by AD100 architecture firm Studio Gang and led by MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang, and operated by Aparium Hotel Group.
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Populus features a striking and distinctive exterior designed by Studio Gang, inspired by Colorado’s native Aspen tree. The hotel’s defining element is its windows of varying sizes, intentionally reflecting the “eyes” of a Populus Tremuloides, the iconic species that inspired both the name and essence of the hotel. As aspens grow, they shed their lower branches, leaving behind dark, eye-shaped marks on the papery bark of their trunks.
Artists Celebrating Nature Throughout Populus
Just as Aspen trees interconnect through their roots to survive, resilient communities include artists, musicians, chefs, community builders, thought-leaders, and environmentalists for mutual support. Our art collection, curated by environmentalist Katherine Homes, showcases artists who embrace this ethos, creating pieces that narrate our deep connection to each other and nature.
Reduced Tons of Embodied Carbon
As the country’s first carbon positive hotel, Populus’ goal is to go beyond net-zero to help the planet regenerate and thrive. Already, the hotel’s embodied carbon footprint, equating to 6,675 mTCO2e, has been reduced through a combination of sustainable design and construction techniques and then offset by the acquisition of 7,000 tons of certified carbon credits (7,000 mTC02e) as a part of its evolving, nature-based sustainability strategy. Learn more here.
Percentage of Food Waste that Populus Diverts Away from Landfills.
Populus also prioritizes zero-waste dining in its restaurants, using an on-site biodigester from BioGreen360 to divert 100% of food waste away from landfills and into compost for local farms – taking the food from table to farm and establishing a circular solution for food waste. In partnership with Zero Foodprint and Wolfe’s Neck Center, Populus’ restaurants further support regenerative farming practices that sequester carbon and improve the food system, including donating one percent of its restaurant sales to regenerative farming.
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