The Beck Group Completes Construction of Denver’s Iconic Populus Hotel, Bringing Sustainable Luxury to the Mile-High City
The Beck Group Celebrates Completion of Denver's Landmark Populus Hotel: A New Era of Sustainable Luxury in the Mile-High City
The Beck Group, a leader in integrated architecture and construction services, proudly announces the grand opening of the Populus, the urban hotel in downtown Denver that blends nature-inspired design with environmentally conscious hospitality to put the health of the planet first. This 265-room property, developed by Urban Villages and designed by renowned firm Studio Gang, is the first carbon positive hotel in the United States, marking a significant achievement in sustainable travel.
Populus reflects Beck’s commitment to pioneering construction techniques and environmental stewardship. Built-in collaboration with Urban Villages and Aparium Hotel Group, the hotel introduces innovative features such as its distinctive façade inspired by the aspen tree, Populus Tremuloides, and eco-conscious construction methods, including low-carbon concrete and renewable energy systems.
"Completing Populus is a significant achievement for our team," said Matthew Archuletta, Regional Director of Beck’s Denver office. "It showcases what can be accomplished when innovative design intersects with state-of-the-art construction. This project sets a new standard for sustainable building in the hospitality industry and represents an important milestone for what can be accomplished in Denver."
Design-Assist for the Unique Façade
Beck played a critical role as the general contractor. It also served as a design-assist partner for the hotel’s unique façade, ensuring the architectural vision was brought to life with precision. Its architectural team used advanced 3D modeling with Rhino and Revit to coordinate the installation of complex glass fiber-reinforced concrete panels. Combining design, fabrication models, and on-site 3D scans ensured the aspen tree-inspired façade patterns were seamlessly integrated with high construction efficiency and quality control. By coordinating with its subcontractors and fabricators, Beck led the successful installation of the windows and panels, capturing the natural light and energy-efficient performance that were key elements of the building's biophilic design.
Sustainable Design for the Future
Beck employed various sustainable construction strategies to reduce the hotel’s embodied carbon. These include insulated façade systems, GFRC rain screens, and eliminating on-site parking to prioritize eco-friendly alternatives. In total, these efforts contribute to Populus’ impressive carbon positive status. Additionally, the hotel’s green roof, designed by Superbloom Landscape Architecture, integrates native trees and vegetation, enhancing the biodiversity of downtown Denver. Every guest at Populus will also contribute to the health of the environment through the hotel’s “One Night, One Tree” program, which plants a tree for every night’s stay, fostering forest regeneration across Colorado.
An Architectural Masterpiece
Designed by Studio Gang, Populus’ striking architecture enhances Denver’s skyline, while its biophilic design principles reconnect guests with nature. The hotel’s unique “Aspen-eye” windows, which change in size throughout the building, bring natural light into the interiors while improving energy performance. Populus is a landmark construction project for The Beck Group. It represents a forward-thinking approach to combining luxury, sustainability, and innovation in construction.
About The Beck Group: The Beck Group is a collaborative team of architects, builders, and technology experts that transforms how its clients design and build. The century-old firm is the largest design-build firm in the United States, with 1,000 employees in nine offices across the U.S. and Mexico. To learn more about Beck and how it designs and builds better communities, visit beckgroup.com.
