Populus opening second carbon positive hotel

SEATTLE – Populus Hotels, a collection of carbon positive hotels, will open the Populus Seattle this spring with online reservations that include planting a tree for every night stayed. Sounds gimmicky? Perhaps. But owner Urban Villages puts a lot more teeth behind its second carbon positive hotel.

Populus Seattle follows a rigorous Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impact of every material, system, and process from construction to decommissioning. The team identifies opportunities to reduce embodied and operational carbon through low impact means and methods, renewable energy, and waste reduction strategies. After every possible reduction has been implemented, the property offsets the remaining footprint with high-quality U.S. nature-based carbon credits to ensure a net negative carbon outcome.

Among its carbon positive messaging:

Populus Seattle will achieve carbon positive status – i.e. the project emissions are net negative – by reducing its embodied carbon footprint through a combination of sustainable design and construction techniques, then offset through ecological sequestration efforts and the purchase of nature-based carbon credits. This sustainability strategy includes:

• Adaptively reusing a historic structure, which reduces its embodied carbon footprint by 36% compared to a baseline new construction project—an equivalent emissions reduction of 2.2 million miles driven.
• Intentionally avoiding building onsite parking to encourage a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle and avoid additional carbon-intensive development. 
• Implementing new windows, which lower energy use while maintaining natural daylight throughout the seasons.
• Procuring 100% renewable power via Renewable Energy Credits (RECs)
• After every possible reduction has been implemented, the property offsets the remaining footprint with high-integrity and durable U.S. nature-based carbon credits from top-tier registries to ensure a net negative carbon outcome.
• Planting a tree for every night stayed at the hotel through the One Night, One Tree program. 
• Partnering with local farms to implement regenerative practices.
• Deploying BioGreen360 “Food Cycling” technology to divert food waste into compost while tracking real-time diversion data.

“Today’s travelers are seeking experiences that align with their values, and the early success of Populus Denver shows how deeply a carbon positive approach can resonate,” said Urban Villages President Jon Buerge. “As we prepare to open Populus Seattle, we’re continuing to prioritize a holistic and intentional model of responsible hospitality—one that enriches the guest experience while leaving a positive impact on both people and the planet. This approach not only reflects what guests are looking for, but also delivers lasting value.”

Hotel details

Populus Seattle (Populus Denver opened fall 2024) preserves a 1907 building with an immersive Pacific Northwest rainforest-inspired feel unique to its Seattle location.

Created by Urban Villages and managed by Aparium Hotel Group, the hotel will feature 120 luxury guest rooms and suites; a signature restaurant, Salt Harvest; Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar; a café; two flexible meeting and event spaces; a collection of more than 300 nature-inspired artworks created onsite; and design that merges the urban heritage of the city with the natural ecology of Washington.

Formerly known as the Westland Building and located in the heart of Seattle’s Pioneer Square, Populus Seattle is one of three main historic buildings that are connected by activated alleyways.

Architecture by The Miller Hull Partnership, interior design by Curioso and landscape design by Seattle-based Site Workship, the hotel is informed by the natural ecology of Washington.  Guests arrive through a biophilic entryway into a lobby where native plants, nature-inspired art, and preserved Douglas Fir beams speak to the building’s historic character and layered design story.

From the lobby, a wood staircase guides guests to the second-floor restaurant, where abundant greenery creates a seamless transition into the glass-wrapped Solarium. Above, the rooftop bar offers lush landscaping and sweeping views of the skyline. Throughout, the interplay of biophilic design and preserved architectural details, including exposed historic car decking and brick, reflect a deliberate balance of natural beauty and urban edge, connecting guests to both the spirit of Pioneer Square and the greater Pacific Northwest.

Populus Seattle further pays homage to its surroundings through an art collection curated by global art production house ARTXIV. Featuring more than 300 original commissions by 35 local and international artists, the collection celebrates the region’s landscapes, heritage, and creative energy, while adding vibrancy and dimension to the hotel’s guest rooms and communal spaces. The works of art were created on-site and offer an immersive journey through themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.

Populus Seattle’s guest rooms are a designed to feel both luxurious and grounded in the distinct beauty of the Pacific Northwest. The Summit Suite serves as expansive sanctuary on the top floor, inclusive of a dining area, kitchenette, soaking tub, and private terrace overlooking the city.

Populus Seattle will debut Salt Harvest, a signature, hearth-driven restaurant that showcases the bounty of the Pacific Northwest, including a Chef’s Counter, two private dining rooms, and The Solarium.