U
rban Villages has launched a $100 million hotel, Populus, in Downtown Denver's Golden Triangle. The 265-room hotel at 240 14th Street is designed to resemble an aspen tree and claims to be the first "carbon positive" hotel in the US. Managed by Aparium Hotel Group, Populus features two restaurants, a coffee shop, and meeting rooms, with rooms starting at $195 per night.

    The hotel's design was inspired by a hike through an aspen forest by architect Jeanne Gang and Grant McCargo, co-founder of Urban Villages. The building's biophilic architecture and distinctive window shape draw from characteristic patterns found on the tree's trunks. Populus aims to offset its carbon footprint through collaborations that sequester more carbon than the building emits throughout its lifecycle.

    The hotel has partnered with One Tree Planted and the US Forest Service to plant over 70,000 trees in Colorado, reintroducing the Engelmann Spruce species diminished by beetle kill. Urban Villages' president, Jon Buerge, stated that their goal was to leave a positive impact on the planet and community. The company has completed nearly $5 billion in real estate deals and developments since its founding in 2006.