SEATTLE (April 16, 2025) – Populus Hotels, a collection of carbon positive hotels that celebrate and protect the natural world, is pleased to announce the debut of Populus Seattle, opening late spring 2025. Formerly known as the Westland Building, the adaptive reuse property reflects the building’s 1907 history and has been thoughtfully modernized to give it a vibrant second life. The 120-room boutique hotel will feature Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar, a signature restaurant, a strong community connection, and design that evokes the feeling of a Pacific Northwest rainforest. Reservations are now open at Populus Seattle, which will plant a tree with every night’s stay through Populus’ One Night, One Tree Program.
Located in the heart of Seattle’s storied Pioneer Square, Populus Seattle is poised to anchor one of the country’s most significant adaptive reuse developments, as one of three main historic buildings that are connected by activated alleyways. It follows the fall 2024 opening of Populus Denver, recently named Hotel of the Year by Esquire and honored by TIME, Travel + Leisure and AFAR as one of the world’s best new hotels. Created by Urban Villages, a leading developer and environmental steward, and managed by Aparium Hotel Group, a world-class hotel operator committed to creating translocal hospitality experiences,Populus Hotels have a deep reverence for nature and their surroundings–from the Rocky Mountain aesthetic of Populus Denver to the Pacific-Northwest ethos of Populus Seattle–while making a positive environmental impact.
“We are incredibly proud to introduce Populus Seattle as the second carbon positive hotel in our portfolio and in the country,” says Jon Buerge, President of Urban Villages. “The greenest building is the one you don’t have to build from the ground up. With adaptive reuse, we’ve preserved the character of this historic building while prioritizing the health of the planet. Populus Seattle represents Populus Hotels’ commitment to responsible hospitality and meaningful guest experiences that reflect the city’s rich culture, arts, and vibrant local ecosystems.”
“Populus Seattle brings to life a vision of hospitality that’s rooted in place and purpose,” says Mario Tricoci, CEO and Founder of Aparium Hotel Group. “This isn’t just a hotel with a strong sustainability story. It’s a living, breathing space that reflects the character of Pioneer Square and the people who bring it to life. Whether you’re visiting or a local, the design, the culinary perspective, and the spirit of the place feel distinctly independent, thoughtfully elevated, and deeply personal.”
Pacific Northwest-Driven Design and Art
A cultural hub where art, music, history, culinary, and community converge – Populus Seattle highlights the neighborhood’s creative spirit and heritage through architecture by The Miller Hull Partnership, interior design by Curioso, and landscape design by Seattle-based Site Workshop, informed by the natural ecology of Washington. Guests arrive through a lush, biophilic entryway into a grand 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 striking 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 a striking art collection curated by esteemed global art production house ARTXIV. Featuring 328 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 captivating works of art were created on-site and offer an immersive journey through themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.
Inspired Guest Rooms and Gathering Spaces
Populus Seattle’s guest rooms are a serene retreat in the heart of the city, designed to feel both luxurious and grounded in the distinct beauty of the 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 adds a lounge area and modern bathroom with double vanities and a soaking tub, while 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.
Poised to become a vibrant social destination for guests and locals alike, Populus Seattle will debut Salt Harvest, a signature, hearth-driven restaurant that showcases the bounty of the Pacific Northwest through dynamic drinking and dining experiences, including an intimate Chef’s Counter, two private dining rooms, and The Solarium. The rooftop bar – Pioneer Square’s first – will serve as a lively spot for golden-hour cocktails, late-night bites, or post-game gatherings after a sporting event at the nearby Stadium District. The Café at Salt Harvest, serving Monorail Espresso, will be a comfortable and relaxing spot in the neighborhood where guests and locals can linger.
On the ground floor, The Library and The Art Room provide versatile venues for business meetings, social gatherings and celebrations of up to 70 guests, and will regularly host community events and programming that foster collaboration, creativity, and connection.
Environmentally Forward Hospitality
Populus Seattle will be carbon positive—meaning it will sequester more carbon in biomass and soil than it emits through both embodied and operational activities over its full lifecycle, prioritizing the health of the planet. 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. Rather than constructing a new building or an onsite parking garage, the project encourages a pedestrian-friendly lifestyle and avoids additional carbon-intensive development. Design choices like adding new windows and increasing natural light help lower energy use, while certified carbon credits are acquired to offset remaining emissions.
As the country’s 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.
Continuing a program launched at Populus Denver, a tree will be planted for every night stayed at the hotel. Additional efforts include partnering with local farms for regenerative practices, using 100% renewable electricity, and deploying BioGreen360 “Food Cycling” technology to divert all food waste into compost while tracking real-time diversion data.
This kindness to the planet extends throughout each aspect of the property, providing guests with an engaging and meaningful connection to the natural world.
A Nature-Inspired Urban Escape
Ideally located in Seattle’s oldest neighborhood, Populus Seattle offers proximity to the city’s top destinations; it is only 15 minutes from iconic Pike Place Market and the cruise port, making it ideal for tourists. Further, the hotel’s location at the epicenter of some of the country’s largest creative and tech firms equally caters to locals grabbing coffee on the way to the office or a post-work drink on the rooftop.
Reservations are now open at Populus Seattle, with rates starting at $469 per night. To book your stay and/or learn more, visit www.PopulusSeattle.com and follow along at @PopulusHotel_Seattle.
ABOUT POPULUS HOTELS
Populus Hotels is a collection of carbon positive hotels centered around a deep and authentic reverence for the natural world. Each hotel is designed to reflect and celebrate the region’s locale and natural beauty, while serving as a new benchmark for environmentally forward hospitality. All Populus Hotels sequester more carbon than they emit throughout their lifecycle, use 100% renewable electricity, plant a tree for every night’s stay through the One Night, One Tree Program, and feature zero-waste restaurants–allowing guests to effortlessly experience responsible hospitality. Populus Hotels is owned and created by Urban Villages, a leading developer and environmental steward, and is managed by Aparium Hotel Group, committed to redefining the hospitality experience through its mission of “Hotels Done Differently.” Populus Hotels is comprised of the award-winning Populus Denver and Populus Seattle, opening in spring 2025. For more information, visit www.urban-villages.com and www.aparium.com.
