Creating a Vibrant Outdoor Space in Civic Center Park and Building a Sustainable View in the Populus Hotel

Bordered by the State Capitol, the City and County Building, and the Denver Art Museum, Civic Center Park is the centerpiece of Denver’s green space. With structures over 100 years old, the park blooms with 25,000 square feet of flower beds each summer and serves as a frequent event site year-round. As Denver’s first National Historic Landmark, Civic Center Park’s future is just as important as its past. The Civic Center Next 100 plan will catalyze new activity and animate this park in the heart of Denver. The transformation of four key areas will fulfill past community-driven planning visions and elevate the landmark for the next 100 years by providing new energy, world-class performances, and events.

This tour also visits nearby Populus, an energetic new social center in downtown Denver with both private and public spaces. The unique style of the hotel is informed by Denver’s aspen trees and its design supports its sustainability and efficiency. The windows are detailed to perform efficiently in the Denver climate, and on the exterior, the “lids” of each window stretch outward to shade the interior, while also channeling rainwater. Deepening the building’s commitment to sustainability, Populus promotes density downtown by activating the entirety of its compact, triangular footprint. The concrete structure minimizes cement by incorporating fly ash and forgoes any levels dedicated to parking—a first for a new building downtown—encouraging visitors toward greener modes of transport. With a green roof providing an attractive habitat for local wildlife and insects, Populus aims to reconnect city dwellers with nature in the heart of Denver.