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Populus was inspired by the ecology of Colorado and the growth process of the native Aspen tree (Populus tremuloides). The idea took shape through Studio Gang’s iterative design process, aiming to create an architectural landmark rooted in place. Its sculptural façade and distinctive windows—referencing the eye-shaped marks on Aspen bark—express the relationship between nature and urban life, embedding a connection within the building’s form and function.
“Denver strikes a unique balance between being a vibrant city and a gateway to some of the country’s most awe-inspiring natural landscapes. Our goal was to draw from this distinct urban character and rich ecology to create a building that would help define the skyline of this thriving city,” says Jeanne Gang, Founding Partner, Studio Gang.
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Populus opens itself to the city of Denver and the Rocky Mountains beyond, establishing itself as a vibrant new social hub. Situated on a prominent corner, the building welcomes visitors and residents from all three sides, connecting key civic, arts, and commercial districts. Its sculptural façade reflects the hotel’s programmatic rhythm: each vertical scallop corresponds to a guest room, while window sizes and shapes vary according to the interior functions. At street level, grand 30-foot-high portal windows frame entrances and reveal lively lobby, restaurant, and amenity spaces. Above, hotel rooms offer immersive views of the State Capitol, Civic Center Park, and mountains through windows that transform into seating, inviting guests to connect with the outdoors and the cityscape alike.
Targeting LEED Gold certification, Populus maximizes its compact, triangular site and forgoes space for parking—a first for a newly built hotel in Denver—to encourage greener transport. Its concrete structure incorporates fly ash to reduce cement use and cut carbon emissions. Shaped for performance in Denver’s climate, the sculpted “lids” above each window provide solar shading and channel rainwater. Much of the interior structure is left exposed to minimize finishes. Where used, finishes target high recycled content, including reclaimed Wyoming snow fencing for ceilings and recycled leather veneer in elevator cabs and guest room desks. The green roof on the top floor provides an attractive habitat for local wildlife and insects, enhancing urban biodiversity.
The design of Populus draws from the distinct urban and natural character of Denver. The 12-story hotel tower maximizes its unique triangular lot with a three-sided design. The variety of window modules work together to create an iconic façade and offer glimpses of the nearby State Capitol, Civic Center Park, and mountains beyond. At the building’s base, which includes a lively restaurant and coffee shop, the windows rise to 30 feet, framing entrances and views into the hotel while adding to the vibrant, pedestrian-friendly quality of the neighborhood. The façade’s vertical scallops correspond to the width of guest rooms, linking the building’s exterior expression with its interior program. The acid-washed, glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) panel cladding reveals the material’s aggregate, giving the building a bright, natural hue that contrasts with dynamic plays of light and shadow created by the facade’s sculptural qualities. Material selection reduces the building’s carbon footprint and creates an aesthetic connecting Populus to the Coloradan landscape. Interiors feature reishi-based leather alternatives from mycelium mushrooms. Terrazzo flooring in the lobby uses locally sourced rock from the South Platte River. Reclaimed Wyoming snow fencing wood adds a natural, regional touch while bringing warmth and texture. Honey Locust trees from an adjacent urban renewal project were reclaimed and used for furniture.
Jon Buerge, President and Partner, Urban Villages: “Populus reflects our vision for a hotel that’s not only beautiful and functional but deeply connected to Denver’s identity. Studio Gang translated this vision into a place where guests, locals, and the city meet—elevating the urban experience with sustainability and storytelling at its core.”
Founded and led by MacArthur Fellow Jeanne Gang, Studio Gang is an architecture and urban design practice based in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and Paris. Driven by an ethos of “actionable idealism”, the Studio uses an iterative, research-based design process to create places that build stronger relationships among people, communities, and the natural world.
Studio Gang’s diverse portfolio ranges from cultural centers to strategic framework plans to high-rise towers. Notable among these are the reimagined Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock; the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership in Kalamazoo, Michigan; and the recently completed Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education, and Innovation at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, which the New York Times called "a poetic, joyful, theatrical work of public architecture.”
