Populus Hotel
DENVER, CO
Design: Jeanne Gang | Studio Gang
Populus Hotel, located in downtown Denver, is the nation’s first carbon-positive hotel, setting a new standard in sustainable hospitality. Designed by Studio Gang, the 13-story building features a façade inspired by aspen trees, with unique eye-shaped windows that provide shade and reduce solar gain.
The hotel boasts 265 rooms, including the Pando Suite with a hammock-style window seat offering panoramic views. Interior spaces evoke the natural world, with earthy tones and materials like reishi leather and reclaimed wood. Populus employs a biodigester to compost all food waste, sources ingredients from regenerative farms, and uses 100% renewable energy.
Through its “One Night, One Tree” program, the hotel plants a tree for every guest stay, aiming to restore forests affected by beetle infestations. Populus exemplifies a commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative design in urban hospitality.
Studio Gang is an architecture and urban design practice founded by architect Jeanne Gang in 1997. Headquartered in Chicago, with additional offices in New York, San Francisco, and Paris, the firm is renowned for its research-driven, interdisciplinary approach to design. Studio Gang’s diverse portfolio includes high-rise buildings like the Aqua Tower and the 101-story St. Regis Chicago, as well as cultural institutions such as the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership and the Richard Gilder Center at the American Museum of Natural History. The firm’s work emphasizes sustainability, community engagement, and the integration of architecture with the natural environment. Studio Gang has received numerous accolades, including the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award and recognition as one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world.
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