Populus
Denver, Colorado
Illuminating a Visionary Design
An architectural marvel and Denver’s first carbon-positive hotel, Populus seamlessly integrates nature-inspired design with cutting-edge building science. To support the project’s bold vision, LS Group developed a lighting concept that elevates the guest experience while aligning with its ambitious sustainability goals.
Designed by the award-winning architecture firm, Studio Gang, Populus features an undulating façade inspired by Aspen groves. The building's unique design and verticality are highlighted through our lighting design, customized to create distinct moods in each of the hotel’s spaces.
Owner |
Urban Villages |
|---|---|
Management |
Aparium Hotel Group |
Architects |
Studio Gang |
|
Fowler Architecture and Planning |
|
Interior Designer |
Wildman Chalmers Design |
Renderings & Diagrams |
Studio Gang |
Photography |
Yoshihiro Makino |
|
Jason O'Rear |
Amplifying Connections to Nature
Aligning with the hotel’s organic design ethos and thoughtfully lit interiors, no exterior lighting was used on the façade. Instead, the interior lighting animates the structure, with floor-to-ceiling curved windows designed to evoke the ‘eyes’ of an aspen tree – some soaring up to 30 feet – offering a glimpse into the hotel’s vibrant lobby, restaurant, and amenity spaces.
The lighting design follows the concept of a tree’s natural energy, from root to canopy. Levels 1 and 2 – the entryway, Pasque, and event spaces – serve as connection floors grounded in natural light; levels 3-12 – the guest room floors – are comforting and quiet spaces for recharging; and level 13 is energizing, the main attraction: rooftop bar and restaurant, Stellar Jay.
A striking focal point in the hotel’s Pasque restaurant and the bar’s main source of light, the Reishi Tapestry sculpture—crafted from nearly 500 sheets of sustainable Reishi™ mycelium by MycoWorks—features a layered lighting approach combining continuous light, pin spots, and wall washers. The effect enhances the sculpture’s organic texture while reinforcing its connection to the building’s nature-inspired design. Extensive coordination and mockups ensured the lighting amplified the sculpture’s impact while maintaining cohesion with the surrounding space.
As the eye is drawn up the hotel’s vertical to the guest floors, rooms are bathed in serene lighting inspired by dappled sunlight filtering through tree canopies, with efficient, low-wattage fixtures strategically placed to maximize reflectivity and minimize energy use.
Finally, the rooftop, Stellar Jay, features a shimmering, golden ambiance that complements the panoramic views. The green roof terrace’s lighting subtly illuminates native vegetation, casting a warm glow that enhances breathtaking city and mountain vistas.
Supporting Ambitious Energy Efficiency Goals
In addition to providing technical expertise, our team conducted a thorough peer review of decorative lighting, evaluating color temperatures, wattages, and dimming capabilities to ensure energy efficiency and aesthetic harmony. This meticulous process resulted in a lighting design that enhances the building’s architectural forms and textures while creating a balanced, immersive experience.
High-efficiency LED fixtures and an advanced control system offer flexible dimming options and intentionally located occupancy sensors to further optimize energy consumption. During the day, abundant natural daylight reduces reliance on artificial lighting, all of which contributed to a lighting concept that exceeded Denver’s lighting power density (LPD) requirements by 22%.
Populus ultimately exemplifies the transformative power of design to inspire new ways of thinking. LS Group’s contributions were instrumental in realizing the project’s vision, demonstrating how lighting can amplify design intent while prioritizing environmental responsibility.
