"The new Populus Hotel in downtown Denver is billed as the nation’s first carbon-positive hotel, meaning it plans to sequester more carbon than it produces. It’s also a striking new architectural feat with a biophilic design that feels both modern and homey. The white facade of the wedge-shaped building is marked with hundreds of windows in more than 60 rounded shapes meant to mimic the bark of an aspen (known by its scientific name as Populus tremuloides), a tree native to Colorado. The hotel building was created with recycled or low-carbon materials, and it operates with 100 percent wind and solar energy and zero-waste dining. Part of the carbon-positive effort also includes planting tens of thousands of trees across the state every quarter. The arboreal inspiration of the exterior continues inside the hotel—the whole building was designed to feel like climbing a 13-story tree. The lobby, for example, is a re-imagining of a forest floor. The concrete floor is speckled with river pebbles, while the potted plants are the kind that typically provide ground coverage. The front desk is made from a cottonwood tree that fell in the nearby community of Longmont, the walls are decorated with shingles made from pine killed by invasive beetles, and the decorative beams above are reclaimed pieces of snow fencing from Wyoming. Stellar Jay, the rooftop restaurant, by contrast, is based on a tree’s canopy, with wallpaper made of actual leaves, emerald green banquettes, polished wood bistro tables, and views of the city. As a Colorado Springs resident who visits Denver at least once a month for events, I’ve stayed at most of the capital city’s hotels. This is hands down my new favorite, both for overnight stays and for dining, and one of the handful I’ll recommend to visiting friends and family." - Bailey Berg
