Populus

Populus is a landmark lifestyle hotel facing Denver's Civic Center Park, designed by Studio Gang on a sharp triangular parcel at the edge of the Golden Triangle. Its sculptural white facade is patterned with irregular, lidded "aspen-eye" openings — a biomimetic nod to the dark scars left on Colorado's quaking aspens — that shade interiors and channel rainwater while giving the tower a singular silhouette. Conceived as the first carbon-positive hotel in the United States, it pairs sustainability engineering with rooftop dining, a ground-floor restaurant and social hub, and interiors woven with regional materials and craft. The property has drawn national acclaim, appearing on major "best new hotels" and "world's greatest places" lists and earning a Michelin Key.