Populus Hotel

RK Mechanical played a key role in the development of the Populus Hotel in Downtown Denver—the first carbon-positive hotel in the United States. As the design-assist contractor, we delivered full plumbing and HVAC services, including domestic water systems, sanitary waste and vent systems, HVAC ventilation, and life safety smoke control.

We worked closely with the interior design and architectural teams to ensure all mechanical systems were seamlessly integrated with the building’s high-performance design.

Located adjacent to Civic Center Park, the 14-story, 138,530-square-foot property includes 265 guest rooms, 40 micro-apartments, a ground-floor bike shop/café, flexible meeting and event spaces, glass-encased retail, and a rooftop bar with panoramic city and mountain views. The project also features a garden terrace and the iconic Aspen Eye façade.

To support the hotel’s carbon-positive goals, the building incorporates renewable energy mechanical systems, efficient heat recovery, and a high-performance envelope that reduces energy consumption.

Populus presented unique technical challenges that we were proud to help solve. Through strong collaboration with our trade partners, we implemented innovative solutions that helped bring this visionary development to life.

Our involvement in Populus reflects our commitment to sustainable construction and our proven ability to execute complex, environmentally conscious projects.