Populus opens in downtown Denver

Populus, the visually striking, nature-inspired hotel that has piqued the curiosity of pedestrians and motorists the past several months, has opened in downtown Denver.

Developed by Urban Villages and managed by Aparium Hotel Group, the hotel boasts 265 guest rooms, flexible meeting and event spaces; two restaurants – Pasque, an all-day dining destination and Stellar Jay, a rooftop restaurant and bar; and an Aspen tree-inspired design by architecture firm Studio Gang.

“The opening of Populus marks an incredibly significant milestone and represents a new model of environmentally conscious hospitality that will forever change the guest experience for mindful travelers, while adding vibrancy to the city of Denver,” said Jon Buerge, president of Urban Villages. “We are excited to watch Populus come to life as the center of a thriving community, becoming everything from the new neighborhood hotspot to a must visit hotel destination, all while inspiring the industry to rethink how hotels can prioritize the health of the planet in a positive, engaging, and meaningful way.”

Populus’ façade is designed for Denver’s varied climate, with “lids” over each window extending slightly outward to shade the interior of the building. On the interiors, the Aspen-eye windows change in size and shape to reflect the public or private nature of various spaces. At the base, the windows rise up to 30 feet to frame entrances and views into the lobby and Pasque restaurant. In the hotel rooms above, guests have views of the nearby State Capitol, Civic Center Park and the Rocky Mountains.

Along with the two restaurants, Populus boasts a coffee bar, the Little Owl, on the first floor.

The hotel opens with its One Night, One Tree program, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, a partner of the U.S. Forest Service, to restore National Forests and Grasslands, which plants a tree for every night’s stay, contributing to up to 20,000 new trees in 2024. Populus’ trees are planted in two Colorado regions and are regularly monitored by the USDA Forest Service to ensure the forests will grow and remain protected for future generations.

Populus was financed by Banc of California and constructed by The Beck Group.

Rates start at $299 a night for guest rooms and $499+ for suites.  Dining reservations for Pasque and Stellar Jay reservations are also now open via OpenTable.  To learn more, visit www.populusdenver.com.