Architecture practice Studio Gang has completed the Populus hotel in Denver, which its developer claims is the "first carbon-positive hotel" in the US.
Located in downtown Denver, the 13-storey hotel has a distinct facade with elliptical windows of varying sizes, designed to reflect the "Aspen eyes" of Colorado's native Aspen tree, also known as Populus Tremuloides.
Studio Gang has completed the Populus hotel in Denver
"Denver strikes a unique balance between being a vibrant city and a gateway to some of the country's most awe-inspiring natural landscapes," said Studio Gang founding partner Jeanne Gang.
"Our goal was to draw from this distinct urban character and rich ecology to create a building that would help define the skyline of this thriving city." Its facade pays homage to the "eyes" of Aspen trees
Triangular in form, Populus contains 265 guestrooms, event and public spaces and a 135,000-square-foot (12,542-square-metre) rooftop garden.
Studio Gang's design includes several techniques to reduce energy usage including the green roof and "lids" that protrude over the windows to shade the interior.
The building is the first "carbon-positive" hotel in the US according to the team
The hotel's facade was made using a low-carbon concrete mix that produces 30 per cent lower emissions than standard concrete.
Its final embodied carbon footprint, including the "creation, transportation, installation, mai...