The triangular lot at 14th and Court in Upper Downtown is cleared, fenced off, and ready for construction. We briefly mentioned this project in what feels like a different era in time and included a basic concept rendering of the project. Fast-forward to the present day, the same project, now named Populus, is expected to break ground by the end of the month.
Below are some current photos of the project site showing that construction fences have been erected, with site prep underway.
In addition, here are a few more photos taken from a higher vantage point showing the project site and its surroundings.
Now for the exciting part. Urban Villages, the project’s developer, is planning to build a 13-story, 265-room hotel. While the density on this small lot is nice to see, the design of the building is icing on the cake. Made to resemble Aspen trees, Populus features a bold design that will become one of the most unique buildings to reside in Downtown Denver. Below are a couple of renderings of Populus. Studio Gang is behind the stunning architecture of this project.
Here is one additional rendering of Populus.
With groundbreaking right around the corner, it will be a thrill to see this project rise!
| Project Description | Developer | Architect | Contractor |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Stories | 297 hotel rooms | 0 (v) parking |
Urban Villages | Studio Gang | Beck Group |
Have wondered for years when they first announced it! I wonder how that small piece of ground will support a 13 story building!
Long-time fan of the photography, very infrequent commenter.
The renovation of the art museum’s Martin building has some 7th floor terraces with spectacular views of much of the city. Obviously this is impractical for most updates, but a long lens and a clear day could be a photographic boon.
Wow, that architecture based on an aspen tree is breathtaking! Stunning, indeed.
The design makes me think of the Elbphilarmonie in Hamburg and the Casa Batllo in Barcelona. It’s intersting to see how, over time, Denver’s aspiration for cultural recognition have played out around civic center park. I hope it’s well detailed and well made…otherwise it could look cheesy.
Speaking of “cheesy,” I expect that we’ll end up calling this building the “Cheese Grater.”
That’s okay–I absolutely love this design. Finally–a building covered with windows that are not rectangular!
Such a awesome building will, look amazing Denver is getting some pretty awesome architecture at the moment this and one river park.
We weren’t aspiring. Hasn’t Casa Bonita been there like forever?
Totally agree. It will contribute handsomely to the civic center area from the Art museum and back looking out from the capitol possibly becoming a backdrop for media that often records from there. I’m amazed at the bravado in the ‘build it and they will come’ type of activity in Denver currently. That’s certainly taking some balls that had been shy for so long. The expanse in density is inspiring and maybe just maybe it will increase the bodies on the street. Will we ever see the reality of enough bicycles crowding those new bike lanes downtown?
Finally, a cool building in Denver.
Very cool! Longtime reader. Thank you for amazing site and updates.
Grrrrreat opening photo. Course the others are, as usual, very good.
GFRC. enough said. Best of luck keeping it clean! Time will tell. Nice design, download the plans off the e permits website if you have the time and see how well done the drawings are.
Very exciting, and it will assuage my sadness about the sweet little Colorado Tourism building that went away. I’m VERY curious about parking. Is it going to be handled on site, or is there another location for that?
Unpopular opinion: I actually don’t care for this design much at all. It really does look like a cheese grater, and for me there is something aesthetically grating (no pun intended) about the windows. With that being said, I’m glad that it’s being built as it provides something very different to the typical mammoth boxes built all over downtown, it will be liked by many (evidenced by the comments so far), and it is certainly thought-provoking. I will say that it does appear that it will have a very nice presence at the street level with the catenary arches in front of the more orthogonal storefronts. That will be a huge win for an area that currently isn’t especially inviting to pedestrians.
I thought it was fugly at first look, then learned of the aspen tree concept and then thought that’s kind of cool. The uniform white exterior color could use some variety — maybe it will stain and look more like aspen. The windows seem like they will be pretty odd on the interior for living.
If well-executed, could be a “must stay at” hotel. Any idea who will manage the restaurant?
Studio Gang also central the rebuild of O’Hare’s terminal 2. Very organic, very cool. https://www.theb1m.com/video/chicago-ohare-rebuild-construction
Very cool! What are those two cranes in the background? The Evans school block.
As a native Coloradan, it very much resembles the white trunks of the Colorado Aspen 🌳. I agree w the commentator above w regard to some staining. It would also be verryy unique and eye caring if some of the windows were actually cut in the shape of an Aspen leaf.