Urban Villages

Sustainability is in our roots. 🌲 We're thrilled to see Populus featured Forbes, highlighting the hotel's One Night, One Tree program. For every night’s stay, a tree will be planted in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, contributing up to 20,000 trees in Colorado this year. This initiative is part of our broader strategy to offset the hotel’s carbon footprint through regenerative practices, 100% renewable electricity, and turning food waste into compost for local farmers. By integrating sustainability into every aspect of Populus, we’re not only enhancing the guest experience but also making a meaningful impact on the environment. Urban Villages president Jon Buerge says it best, "Populus represents a new model for environmentally forward hospitality. We considered sustainability at every stage of the hotel’s development from its nature inspired design and construction practices to its operations and substantial offsite ecological initiatives. Our One Night, One Tree program invites guests to play a tangible role in this effort by planting trees in our own backyard with each stay." Read the full article here: https://heyor.ca/wMYoSB. #UrbanVillages

It seems like just yesterday that we broke ground on Hotel Westland last July! The greenest building is one you don’t have to build from the ground up. Through adaptive reuse, we’ve modernized this 1907 construction in Seattle’s Pioneer Square and are well on our way to transforming it into the second carbon positive hotel in the country, set to open in spring 2025! The boutique hotel will feature 120 modern guest rooms and amenities while maintaining its historic character, Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar, and a signature restaurant, all fueled by an authentic connection to the community and history. #UrbanVillages 📷: Sam Horine

As urban developers, we advocate for placemaking as a transformative approach. This involves creating spaces that not only serve functional or aesthetic purposes but also foster community engagement and contribute positively to the local economy and culture. For example, in projects like Sugar Block, we carefully select a mix of tenants—restaurants, shops, and services—that align with the local community's needs, creating a vibrant hub that residents are drawn to. One of the three Sugar Block constructions is SugarCube (pictured here), which transformed an underutilized parking lot into a dynamic, mixed-use building that utilizes solar energy and was awarded the City of Denver's Design of the Year. It integrates upscale residential units, offices, and retail spaces, attracting both visitors and locals, thus driving economic activity and bolstering community interactions. #UrbanVillages

We take our role as stewards of this planet seriously. From selecting materials with minimal carbon footprints to incorporating biophilic designs that maximize natural daylight, we ensure our buildings are both environmentally friendly and beautiful. Below are six ways you can help conserve: ➡️ Plant trees in your community. ➡️ Participate in a neighborhood cleanup. ➡️ Share information to educate others about the importance of conservation. ➡️ Donate to reputable organizations that protect wildlife, forests, and other critical habitats. ➡️ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. ➡️ Be mindful of your water usage. #UrbanVillages

Just a few weeks ago, we celebrated another significant milestone for our upcoming Populus hotel in Denver – the unveiling of its two dining concepts, Pasque and Stellar Jay. Led by seasoned Executive Chef Ian Wortham and managed by Aparium Hotel Group, these restaurants are set to become vibrant community gathering spots, offering memorable dining experiences for every occasion, from engaging business lunches or romantic dinners at Pasque to lively nights out with friends at the Stellar Jay rooftop. In line with the hotel's carbon-positive approach, which sequesters more carbon than it emits, the restaurants will prioritize responsibly sourced ingredients and convert 100 percent of food waste into compost. The interiors will pay tribute to Colorado and are designed to reconnect people with nature and each other. To learn more, read the full article in The Denver Post: https://dpo.st/4ecaHdj #UrbanVillages 📷: Nephew Studio

One of the world's premier cocktail bars is coming our adaptive reuse micro-district, RailSpur, next summer! Death & Co. will elevate your spirits with their fifth location, situated on the ground floor of the 419 Occidental Ave building at RailSpur. Infusing vibrancy into the Pioneer Square neighborhood, this renowned cocktail spot will introduce its celebrated brand of hospitality to the Pacific Northwest. Featuring a thoughtfully designed space and a menu that pays homage to Seattle's rich history and culture, the city founder David Kaplan proudly calls home. Read more here: https://bit.ly/4eGAXwD

The countdown to Denver’s most anticipated hotel opening is on! From hosting Bisnow's Hospitality & Mixed-Use Summit, discussing the future of sustainable hospitality with Populus as an example, to celebrating its exterior completion and hosting local media for exclusive first look tours of the hotel, it’s been a busy summer. Not long now until we’re ready to open the doors of Populus later this summer! #UrbanVillages

Our adaptive reuse project, RailSpur, breathes new life into Seattle's oldest neighborhood, Pioneer Square—once a haven for independent bookshops and art galleries. Committed to maintaining this area as a vibrant hub for creatives and the broader community, we have hosted various interactive art and music events over the past few years, including the now infamous Forest For the Trees, an annual multi-day art extravaganza and block party. This year, in collaboration with ARTXIV, we launched a pop-up art studio in RailSpur's 419 Occidental Ave building—a sprawling 10,000+ sq. ft space that has served as a creative incubator for over 30 artists in the past three months. The results? 328 thought-provoking works that will grace the walls of Hotel Westland, opening in RailSpur in spring 2025. We invite the public to catch an exclusive first glimpse of this collection during an exhibition at RailSpur from July 26-29. Additionally, selected pieces will be showcased at a Hotel Westland booth at the Seattle Art Fair from July 25-28, 2024. 📷: ARTXIV

We're hiring! We're looking for highly qualified candidates for two roles in asset management: an executive-level Head of Real Estate Investments & Asset Management and a Senior Asset Management Analyst. Know someone in your network who would be perfect for building upon our foundation of asset management, taking it to new heights, or, someone with 2-5 years of professional experience in real estate analytics and reporting? We want to meet them. Share with your network and learn more about the big impact these team members will have on the future of sustainable development. #UrbanVillages

Urban Villages President and environmentalist, Jon Buerge, is a member of Denver Business Journal's Power Book class of 2024! Returning for the first time since 2016, Power Book celebrates the 45 Denver business leaders to watch. Featured in the Architecture, Construction & Engineering category, Jon's industry-changing idea of inspiring other developers to take a people and planet-approach, and desire to push the standards of environmental stewardship, earned him a spot on this coveted list. His next big goal? Successfully completing and opening Populus in downtown Denver. Congratulations, Jon! #UrbanVillages