The Populus Hotel: Where Architecture Meets Nature at the Best Hotel in Downtown Denver

In the heart of downtown Denver, a remarkable building reimagines what a building can be when nature becomes the blueprint.

An Aspen Grove in the City

The story of Populus begins not in a design studio, but on a hiking trail. When Jeanne Gang of Studio Gang was commissioned to design the hotel, she took an unconventional first step: she joined developer Grant McCargo on a weeklong backpacking trip through Colorado's aspen forests. There, among the iconic trees that define the Colorado landscape, Gang found her inspiration.

The result is a 265-room hotel that pays homage to the aspen tree, scientifically known as Populus tremuloides—the very source of the hotel's name. But this isn't merely aesthetic mimicry. The architecture captures the essence of how aspens grow, live, and mark their presence in the forest.

The Eyes Have It: Biomimetic Design

The most striking feature of Populus is its array of distinctive eye-shaped windows that wrap around the building's facade. These aren't arbitrary design choices—they're direct references to the characteristic dark, oval marks found on aspen bark. As aspen trees mature, they shed their lower branches, leaving behind these signature "eyes" on their pale, papery trunks.

At Populus, these window shapes vary dramatically throughout the building's 13 stories. At ground level, they soar to 30 feet in height, creating dramatic portals that frame entrances to the lobby, restaurant, and public spaces. Moving upward, the windows become more intimate, sized to serve the guest rooms while maintaining their distinctive organic shape.

But these windows do more than look beautiful. Each one features an exterior "lid" that extends outward, performing a crucial function in Denver's climate. These projections shade the interior from the intense Colorado sun, improving energy efficiency while also channeling rainwater down the facade to keep it looking fresh. It's a perfect example of biomimetic design—where form and function unite, just as they do in nature.

In many guest rooms, the windows themselves become occupiable spaces, transforming into cushioned seating areas where guests can nestle into a hammock-like perch and take in views of the State Capitol, Civic Center Park, and the Rocky Mountains beyond. The window is both frame and seat, bringing visitors closer to the outdoors even while sheltered inside.

A New Standard for Sustainable Hospitality

Populus isn't just inspired by nature—it's designed to give back to it. The hotel stands as the first carbon-positive hotel in the United States, representing a bold commitment that goes far beyond standard green building practices.

From the ground up, sustainability shaped every decision. The concrete structure minimizes traditional cement by incorporating fly ash, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. In a groundbreaking move for downtown Denver, Populus became one of the first new-build hotels to forgo dedicated parking levels entirely. This decision wasn't just about saving construction costs—it was a deliberate choice to encourage guests toward greener transportation options like walking, cycling, and public transit.

The hotel's embodied carbon footprint of 6,675 metric tons of CO2 equivalent has been more than offset through a combination of certified carbon credits and extensive reforestation efforts. Most notably, Populus funded the planting of more than 70,000 Engelmann spruce trees in Gunnison County, Colorado, covering over 172 acres of forestland.

But the commitment doesn't end with construction. Through the "One Night, One Tree" initiative, Populus plants a tree through the National Forest Foundation for every night a guest stays at the hotel. This program is expected to add up to 20,000 trees annually, giving each visitor a tangible role in the hotel's environmental story.

Living Sustainably, Daily

The hotel's operational sustainability is equally impressive. Populus runs on 100 percent renewable energy sourced from off-site solar and wind farms. The two restaurants, Pasque and Stellar Jay, operate with a zero-waste dining approach, utilizing an on-site BioGreen360 biodigester—the first of its kind in a Denver hotel. This technology diverts 100 percent of food waste from landfills, converting it into compost for local farms. It's a circular system that takes food from table to farm, closing the loop.

As a member of Zero Foodprint and in partnership with Wolfe's Neck Center, Populus's restaurants dedicate one percent of sales to support regenerative farming practices that sequester carbon and improve soil health. The menus feature ingredients from local, regenerative, and organic farmers and ranchers, ensuring that the commitment to sustainability extends to every plate.

The Forest Inside

Wildman Chalmers Design brought the aspen grove metaphor into the hotel's interior spaces, creating an experience that moves through the layers of a forest. The ground floor lobby evokes the forest floor itself, with stained concrete exposing aggregate to mimic the varied textures of fallen needles and earth. The ceiling is lined with reclaimed wood slats salvaged from Wyoming snow fencing, adding warmth and history to the space.

A grand sculptural staircase leads to the second floor, where meeting spaces and event areas continue the nature-forward aesthetic with warm, earthy tones and natural materials. As guests ascend through the building, the design lightens and becomes airier, like moving from the forest floor up through the tree trunks toward the canopy.

The rooftop—the "canopy" level—bursts with color and life. Stellar Jay, the rooftop restaurant, bar, and terrace, features a green roof that provides habitat for local wildlife and insects. An overhead installation of 140 hand-patinated metal discs, each bent into a unique shape and hung at varying levels, evokes a shimmering layer of golden aspen leaves. From this vantage point, guests can take in unobstructed views of Denver's skyline and the mountains beyond.

Where Resilience Meets Roots

There's a deeper metaphor at work in Populus beyond the visual. Aspen trees are known for their interconnected root systems—individual trees are actually part of larger organisms called clones, connected underground and sharing resources. This resilience through connection inspired the hotel's community-focused approach.

The art collection, curated by environmentalist Katherine Homes, showcases artists who embrace themes of interconnection and our relationship with the natural world. The hotel activates its street-level presence on all three sides of its triangular footprint, welcoming both hotel guests and Denver residents to its public spaces, restaurants, and coffee shop. It's designed to be a social center that connects the city's civic, arts, and commercial districts.

Design That Looks Forward

In a world where "greenwashing" has become all too common, Populus stands out for its transparency and measurable impact. Every sustainable feature—from the bird-safe window dots to the biodegradable packaging used throughout the hotel—has been thoughtfully integrated into the experience rather than merely advertised.

The hotel proves that environmental stewardship and striking design don't have to be at odds. The sculptural facade that draws the eye is also deeply functional. The warm, welcoming interiors that create a sense of calm are built from reclaimed, recycled, and sustainably certified materials chosen for durability. The culinary experiences that delight guests also support regenerative agriculture and create zero waste.

A Blueprint for the Future

Populus represents more than a beautiful hotel. It's a proof of concept—evidence that urban hospitality can actively improve the environment rather than simply minimize harm. In developer Jon Buerge's words, it's "a new model of environmentally conscious hospitality that will forever change the guest experience for mindful travelers."

As climate consciousness increasingly shapes consumer choices, Populus demonstrates that sustainability can be an asset rather than a compromise. The hotel hasn't sacrificed luxury or comfort in pursuit of its environmental goals. Instead, it has woven ecological responsibility into every aspect of the guest experience, creating something richer and more meaningful as a result.

Standing at the intersection of 14th Street and Colfax Avenue, adjacent to Civic Center Park, Populus does more than fill a gap in Denver's skyline. It redefines what an urban tower can achieve, bringing nature back into the city through biophilic design that connects visitors with the landscapes that make Colorado extraordinary.

In an era when buildings are too often forgettable boxes, Populus reminds us that architecture can tell a story—about place, about values, and about our relationship with the natural world. It's a hotel, yes, but it's also a statement about what's possible when we design with intention, with reverence for nature, and with an eye toward the kind of future we want to build.

https://populusdenver.com/our-story/

https://studiogang.com/projects/populus/

https://www.designboom.com/architecture/studio-gang-populus-hotel-denver-colorado-aspen-tree-facade-10-15-2024/

https://www.westword.com/news/populus-hotel-adds-architectural-diversity-to-downtown-denver-20445376/

https://urban-villages.com/project/populus/

https://www.designboom.com/architecture/studio-gang-populus-denver-colorado-hotel-apartment-mixed-use-02-11-2021/

https://www.rawcreativedenver.com/all-projects/populus-hotel

https://www.hautelivingsf.com/2025/08/15/populus-denver-this-aspen-inspired-hotel-is-striking-ambitious/

https://www.coloradohomesmag.com/a-tree-like-hotel-grows-its-roots-in-denver/