Superbloom is leading the design of the Populus Hotel green roof in downtown Denver, which broke ground in 2022. Working with project architect Studio Gang and developer Urban Villages, Superbloom brings a commitment to community and ecology to the design and planning of the hotel’s green roof, restaurant terrace and streetscapes.

The Populus Hotel Green Roof in downtown Denver will be Colorado’s first carbon-positive hotel, “a stunning architectural landmark by Studio Gang that will forever alter Denver’s skyline and contribute to the architectural legacy of the entire Mountain West” (Grant McCargo, Urban Village co-founder, CEO, chief environmental officer, and partner, Dezeen). Drawn to this project by the opportunity to make an impact on Denver’s urban ecology, Superbloom consulted with local green roof experts to formulate a unique combination of native plants. The planting scheme introduces the Columnar Swedish Aspen, the prairie-adapted variation of the building’s namesake, Populus tremula ‘erecta’ in order to establish verticality on the green roof. The spectrum of plant species aims to create a microclimate that attracts and supports pollinators like insects and birds, as well as give guests to the hotel’s rooftop restaurant and bar a taste of nature while taking in stunning views of the Denver skyline and Front Range of the Rockies.

The hotel will join other rooftop habitats in Colorado’s capital, the Denver Botanic Gardens, the Clyfford Still Museum, and the University of Colorado Anschutz Wellness Center. The project aims to maximize sustainability through innovative high performance building envelopes, solar energy, native habitats and more.

Render of Populus Hotel (Images 1, 2, 8), courtesy of Studio Gang.

Collaborators: Studio Gang, Urban Villages, Kimley Horn, American Hydrotech, Studio NYL, Design Agency, WSP, Arup, LS Group, Lerch Bates, Advanced Consulting Engineers, Hydrosystems KDI