will be highly visible not only because of its location — next to Civic Center park — but also because of its design. The triangular building’s exterior will evoke the bark of an aspen tree, with the inset windows mimicking the dark, eye-shaped marks left on an aspen’s bark when branches break off.Studio GangThe exterior “lids” of the windows will shade the interior and channel rainwater to keep the facade looking fresh, according to Studio Gang’s website.
Urban Villages is working with outside companies to calculate the hotel’s carbon footprint, from the concrete and other building materials used, the interior furnishings and the energy used to power the hotel. The company said a low-carbon concrete mix was used in construction. Populus won’t have onsite parking. Urban Villages said parking garages “are built of carbon-heavy steel and reinforced concrete.”
McCargo acknowledged there are added costs in developing Populus as a carbon-positive building, but believes the project will be more successful as a result of the investments.