Populus Hotels is proud to announce the opening of its first carbon-neutral hotel. Populus Seattle The new Pioneer Square is now open. Created by Urban Villages, a leading developer, environmental steward and created in collaboration with Aparium Hotel GroupPopulus Seattle was adaptively reused by a visionary operator who operates independent, luxury lifestyle properties. The building’s original 1907 history has been preserved and thoughtfully updated to give it an exciting, vibrant feel. Second life. Firn rooftop bar is located on the 120-room boutique, as well as Salt Harvest signature restaurant. Both are inspired by the Pacific Northwest. The hotel is committed to sustainability, planting a tree every night through the Populus One Night, One Tree Program. Its design also evokes lush, natural beauty in a Pacific Northwest rainforest, giving it a sense of place..
“The opening of Populus Seattle marks an incredibly significant milestone for the future of environmentally forward hospitality – both in Seattle and across the country – providing a lively new gathering place that connects guests and locals to the Pacific Northwest in the heart of the city,” says Jon Buerge, President of Urban Villages. “Populus Seattle underscores Populus Hotel’s unwavering commitment to honor and give back to our environment; this time, as a historic adaptive reuse property with an immersive urban-meets-rainforest feel that uniquely reflects its Seattle location.”
“At Populus Seattle, we set out to create a place where guests can truly connect with the city—a space where every stay becomes a series of discoveries, from art that tells the stories of the region to flavors that capture its essence,” said Mario Tricoci, CEO and Founder of Aparium Hotel Group. Our goal was to create a hotel which is not just a backdrop, but an integral part of the trip itself.
Rod Lapasin is the Managing Director and General manager. “As a fifth generation Seattleite, it’s my pleasure to welcome guests at Populus Seattle in Pioneer Square,” he said. This is a neighborhood that has a lot of personality and history, and our hotel feels like an extension of this energy.
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Architecture preserves the urban past
Populus Seattle was designed by Miller Hull Partnership. A firm that creates a future inclusive and regenerative through the built environmentThe building was originally known as the Westland Building, which dates back to the early 1900s. Driven by the philosophy of letting the original building dictate the design, The Miller Hull Partnership rehabilitated the structure to be modernized as a lifestyle hotel, without compromising its historical relevance or its reflection of Pioneer Square – Seattle’s first neighborhood. Populus Seattle’s carbon footprint is lower because it is an adaptive reuse project.
Wherever possible, The Miller Hull Partnership preserved and repurposed existing materials, including Douglas Fir beams, exposed historic brick, and car decking – all of which speak to the building’s character and layered design story. In some instances, they worked to bring the building back to its original state; for example, by relocating elevators added in the 70s to open up a stunning skylight – which now runs from the lobby up through the roof, filtering in beautiful natural light and letting the outdoors in.
Populus Seattle is constructed by a Seattle-based general contractor. JTM Construction.
Interior design, landscape and art brings nature to the city
Interiors are designed by, conceptualized and executed, bringing the hotel’s connection to place and roots to life. Curioso — an internationally renowned design studio specializing in the human-centered, contextual design of hotels, restaurants, residences, and brands. Curioso’s inspiration for Populus Seattle, Curioso’s first project, was the history of Seattle and its culture, and the nature of the Pacific Northwest surrounding the city as a contrast to and complement of the urban environment. To achieve this duality of nature and city and past and present, Curioso carefully utilized raw woods, forged steel, and organic lines – often leaving the structural elements exposed to create a balance of raw beauty and refined craftsmanship.
Populus Seattle was inspired by nature and brings diverse trees and vegetation into the heart of the metropolis through biophilia. Its lush entryway and rooftop – both designed by Seattle-based landscape architecture firm, Site WorkshopWashington’s natural ecology informs the design of the hotel. G(host Forest), a hanging landscape piece by Isvald Klingels composed of fallen tree snags logs branches and live plants, will immerse guests in nature as soon as they step through the doors. Some of the old-growth native trees are Western redcedars or Yew trees that can be up to 500 year old and reach 16 feet in height. They pay homage Pioneer Square’s past as an important logging destination. Native prairie plants are used on the roof to pay tribute to the original coast glacial trail while bringing biodiversity back into the city by bringing butterflies and bumblebees. Seattle-based landscape designer provides additional highlights. Camden GardensThe Salt Harvest Solarium is adorned with a large amount of greenery, including tropical plants that thrive indoors. There’s also a multi-story wall of moss, which runs up the lobby through the skylight.
Populus Seattle A dynamic art collection of 300+ pieces, curated by the global art production firm, pays homage its surroundings ARTXIV. Populus Seattle’s collection of art represents the largest revival of regional art in the region since the legendary Northwest School Movement of the mid-20th Century. This exhibition includes commissions from 35 local artists, regional artists and internationals. The exhibition is a testimony to the creative epicenter’s past and present. The stunning works of art created on site and Enjoy the Pacific Northwest’s natural beauty, cultural heritage and creative pulse – including large-scale art in the lobby by Sean Barton, Przemysław Blejzyk, Andrea Heimer, Joe Feddersen, and Kimberly Trowbridge.
Inviting guest rooms, event spaces, and amenities
Populus Seattle is home to a number of inspiring amenities and communal areas that cater to both locals and Seattleites. Upon entering, guests are greeted with the buzzing ambiance of the lush, art-filled lobby and two distinct meeting and event spaces – The Library and The Art Room – on either side. These flexible venues are perfect for business meetings, celebrations, and social gatherings with up to 70 people. They also host regular community events that promote collaboration, creativity, connection, and innovation. In the lobby, a grand staircase leads to the second floor, which is home to Salt Harvest and The Café at Salt Harvest, which also features a direct entrance from the public alleyway, providing a convenient way for locals to grab a coffee and bite during their morning commutes.
Populus Seattle has 120 guest rooms, suites and apartments that are a peaceful retreat in Seattle. The hotel is designed to be luxurious while also embracing the natural beauty of Pacific Northwest. Spacious, artful accommodations include the Lupine King Room, featuring curated décor and art alongside architectural details like exposed brick and large windows that invite natural light. The Noble Fir Studio King has a lounge, modern bathroom with double sinks and a bathtub. On the top floor is the Summit Suite, which includes a dining space, kitchenette, tub and private terrace.
Pacific Northwest-Inspired Dining and Drinking at Salt Harvest & Firn
Poised to be dynamic additions to Pioneer Square’s growing culinary scene, Populus Seattle is home to Salt Harvest, a deeply Pacific Northwest dining experience shaped by fire and seasonality, and Firn, Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar with skyline views, a cocktail menu inspired by the natural world, and thoughtfully crafted Pacific Northwest bites. Both concepts are led by Chef de Cuisine Jonathan De Paz who is a former chef at Eleven Madison Park and The French Laundry, as well as a cookbook author and internationally recognized chef.
Salt Harvest represents the Pacific Northwest culinary identity. Bold flavors and natural ingredients reflect the bounty of the region. A wood-fired stove and the philosophy that food is a representation of place guide the menu, which features local seafood and meats. The restaurant features a number of seating options, including The Solarium and a Chef’s Counter with nine seats that allows guests to see the kitchen in action. There is also a beautiful bar for drinking and dining and two private dining areas.
The Café at Salt Harvest is a comfortable neighborhood spot where guests and locals can linger, serving Monorail Espresso You can find artisanal pastries.
Firn is the first and only rooftop restaurant in Pioneer Square. It draws inspiration from the rugged beauty of the area, incorporating local flora and natural materials with sweeping views of both the skyline and the waterfront. Firn is a name that refers compacted ice found on nearby glaciers. The drink menu features cocktail ingredients organized by ice, paying homage to this. There’s also a wine selection featuring Pacific Northwest Vineyards. The food menu was designed to be enjoyed with friends. It is centered around the art of preservation, focusing on the best produce, meats, and fish from the Pacific Northwest.
Redefining Eco-Conscious Hospitality
Like all Populus Hotels, Populus Seattle is committed to being carbon positive – meaning it sequesters more carbon in biomass and soil than it emits through both embodied and operational activities over its full lifecycle. The hotel’s sustainability strategy includes preserving and revitalizing a historic structure, reducing its embodied carbon footprint by 36 percent—the equivalent of 2.2 million miles driven or 492 tons of coal burned. The hotel chose to avoid building a new structure or a parking garage on site and instead encourage a pedestrian-friendly life style. It also made design choices such as adding new insulated window, which increases natural light while reducing energy consumption.
Populus Seattle is the country’s only carbon positive hotel. It uses Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) to measure the environmental impact on every material, process and system from construction to decommissioning. The team identified ways to reduce carbon emissions through low-impact strategies, renewable energy and waste reduction. After every possible reduction was implemented, the property offset the remaining embodied carbon footprint – including the building’s core, shell, furniture, fixtures, and equipment, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing – Through the Acquisition Carbon credits of high integrity as part of its evolving nature-based strategy for reducing emissions. For this latest project, Populus Seattle Working with King County Forest Carbon Program Verra forest carbon credits of high integrity can be obtained from projects in King County Who? Supporting land conservation, greenspaces, and new parks are some of the core impacts.
A program started at Populus DenverPopulus Seattle’s One Night, One Tree Program, which plants one tree per night of stay, has a positive and tangible impact on the local forests. The hotel also works with local farmers to promote regenerative methods, uses 100% renewable energy, composts all food waste and has a reverence for the natural world.
A Nature-Inspired Urban Escape
Populus Seattle, located in Seattle’s oldest neighborhood is close to top attractions. The iconic Pike Place Market as well as the cruise port are only 15-minutes away, making this hotel ideal for tourists. The hotel’s proximity to some of the largest tech and creative firms in the United States makes it ideal for both tourists and locals.
Populus Seattle in Pioneer Square is situated in the RailSpur district, a micro-district where history, music, culture, cuisine, and the community all come together. RailSpur was developed by Urban Villages and consists of historic buildings with alleyways which are used to host events and programs.
