Environmentally-Forward, Historic Adaptive Reuse Property Evokes a Pacific Northwest Rainforest and Pays Homage to Storied Pioneer Square with Architecture by The Miller Hull Partnership, Elevated Interiors by Curioso, and Landscape Design by Site Workshop and Camden Gardens
SEATTLE (May 22, 2025) – Populus Seattle, a carbon positive hotel rooted in reverence for nature and place, is now open in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square. Housed in the thoughtfully reimagined 1907 Westland Building, the 120-room boutique hotel marries past and present through architecture by The Miller Hull Partnership (Miller Hull), elevated interiors by Curioso, and landscape design by Seattle-based Site Workshop and Camden Gardens. An adaptive reuse project, Populus Seattle, evokes the feeling of a lush Pacific Northwest rainforest while honoring the cultural and architectural legacy of its storied neighborhood.
Preserved architectural elements, bold interventions, biophilic design, and a dynamic art collection created on-site converge to create a deeply sensory guest experience within the hotel, restaurant, and rooftop bar; it’s one that fosters a profound connection to both the natural world and the urban fabric of Seattle.
“We are thrilled to welcome guests to Populus Seattle – an inspired hotel that intimately connects guests to the Pacific Northwest through biophilic design, historic adaptive reuse, and one of the region’s most significant art collections in decades,” says Jon Buerge, President of Urban Villages, the owner and developer of Populus Seattle. “Every design detail has been thoughtfully considered to embody the heart and soul of its surroundings – both the culturally rich urban center of Seattle and the raw beauty of the region and landscape – while upholding Populus Hotels’ ethos of being kind to the planet.”
“Through the design of Populus Seattle, we wanted to honor both the building’s history and its local context, embracing the lively contrasts between a stunning natural landscape and a rich urban environment,” says Carlos Herrera, Studio Design Leader at Curioso. “We were inspired by the hotel’s unique location at the intersection of Seattle’s railways and waterways, blending past and present into a forward-leaning design still deeply rooted in community. The result is an interior space that feels simultaneously restorative and invigorating, like a deep breath of fresh, Pacific Northwest air.”
A Historic Landmark Reimagined
Created by Urban Villages, a leading real estate developer and environmental steward, and brought to life in collaboration with Aparium Hotel Group, a visionary operator of independent, luxury lifestyle hotels, Populus Seattle stands as a landmark achievement in adaptive reuse. Its transformation from a century-old steam supply warehouse into an environmentally-forward lifestyle hotel was spearheaded by Miller Hull, an architecture firm known for advancing regenerative, inclusive design through the built environment.
Situated in the heart of Pioneer Square – Seattle’s oldest and most storied neighborhood – the hotel retains its original six-story façade of gray brick, complete with distinctive medallions and diamond-shaped ornaments. The building’s heavy-timber frame was meticulously restored and strengthened to meet current seismic codes by Miller Hull and structural engineers, Coughlin Porter Lundeen in collaboration with Seattle-based general contractor JTM Construction, using the new elevator and stair tower to brace the building while leaving its historic facades intact. This balance of preservation and innovation guided a series of architectural interventions that modernized the space while avoiding carbon-intensive new construction and honoring the neighborhood’s historic character.
Taking cues from the building’s existing form, the team expanded a central Sky Court – originally introduced in 1979 – to channel light and air into the interior guestrooms, lobby, and the hotel’s signature restaurant, Salt Harvest, via a newly installed skylight. Joists supporting the skylight were reclaimed from elsewhere in the building, restoring the original timber structure removed in the 70’s, to the central and most visible structural bay,.honoring the heavy-timber legacy of the Westland Building. In the back of Salt Harvest, four long-forgotten train load-in portals were reopened and reimagined as a nod to the building’s industrial past. Throughout the space, original Douglas Fir beams, exposed brick, and wood car decking were carefully repurposed to express the building’s architectural character and layered design narrative.
Populus Seattle anchors the RailSpur micro-district, a vibrant cultural corridor where art, music, history, culinary, and community converge. Developed by Urban Villages, RailSpur is comprised of three historic buildings and the alleyways that connect them, which regularly host community programming and events. As the district’s adaptive reuse centerpiece, Populus Seattle plays a central role in the revitalization of this formerly dormant hub into a dynamic destination.
Biophilic Design Evoking a Pacific Northwest Rainforest
Populus Seattle’s preserved architectural elements and industrial bones are seamlessly intertwined with biophilia, informed by the vibrant ecosystem of Washington, reflecting a deliberate balance of urban edge and natural beauty. The hotel was designed to evoke the feeling of a Pacific Northwest rainforest, an experience that begins upon arrival at a lush glass vestibule and then conjures the landscape of the Puget Lowlands on the rooftop.
Inside, guests are welcomed into the “G(host) Forest”, an installation by Isvald Klingels in partnership with Site Workshop. This living landscape is comprised of fallen tree stumps, snags, logs, and branches along with two, old-growth Red Cedars and a rare 16-foot-tall spiraling Yew Tree, supporting and nourishing live plants. Sourced from a retired local logger, these 300–500-year-old trees were knocked down by windfall and serve as a tribute to Pioneer Square’s logging legacy of the early 1850s, symbolizing nature’s cyclical renewal and the building’s rebirth as Populus Seattle.
Towering above, a striking vertical feature affectionately called the “MossFoss” transforms a six-story concrete wall of the Sky Court into a living ecosystem. Moss-covered ropes will cascade down the surface, encouraging natural moss growth over time – an ode to the Pacific Northwest’s climate and landscape. The Moss Foss is visible from many interior guestrooms and the lobby, thanks to the newly expanded skylight that floods the space with natural light.
The rainforest journey continues with plants that thrive indoors flanking the sculptural staircase, which is heavily inspired by the many outdoor stairways built into berms throughout Seattle, and leads to the second-floor restaurant. Once inside Salt Harvest, guests have the unique opportunity to dine beneath a soaring canopy inside the Solarium – a stunning glass-wrapped indoor-outdoor space once used for train load-ins – now featuring more than 42 suspended potted plants. At Firn, Pioneer Square’s first rooftop bar, Site Workshop embraced native species to celebrate and restore local biodiversity. Here, pollinator-friendly plants – including nurse stumps echoed from the lobby, wildflowers, prairies, camas, and sedges – create an ecologically rich habitat that attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and native bumblebees.
With proven psychological and physiological benefits, Populus Seattle’s immersive biophilic design fosters calm, curiosity, and a lasting connection to nature.
Inspired Guest Rooms and Gathering Spaces
Populus Seattle’s interiors, envisioned by internationally renowned design studio Curioso, reflect a seamless dialogue between urban grit and natural serenity. As their first project in Seattle, Curioso drew inspiration from the city’s history, its creative and forward-thinking culture, and the majestic landscapes of the Pacific Northwest – designing with intentional contrast: city and nature, past and present.
To bring this vision to life, the team employed a tactile mix of raw woods, forged steel, and organic lines, often leaving structural elements exposed. This interplay of refined craftsmanship and industrial honesty creates an environment that feels both grounded and elevated.
Upon arrival, guests are immersed in a calming palette rooted in the region’s natural tones. Exposed brick and millwork meet lush vegetation, while accents like upcycled blue glass from local antique vendors nod to the nearby ocean. Elegant lounge seating invites lingering in the double-height lobby, where weathered wood and pristine metals provide textural balance that echoes the building’s historic integrity and highlights the work of local artisans.
The lobby also houses two distinct gathering spaces – The Library and The Art Room – designed as artistic havens for community engagement and creative programming. Curated by Populus Hotels’ Creative Director , Katherine Homes, who sourced accessories throughout the entire hotel, these communal spaces feature collected antiques, warm furnishings, and thoughtful art pieces. The Art Room centers around a showstopping piano sourced from Earthwise Architectural, and includes a wall of vintage instruments, with others available for guests to play. The Library offers a robust selection of hand-picked books from local bookstores, exploring topics ranging from Pacific Northwest history and marine life to regional architecture and art.
A dramatic granite staircase leads guests to the second floor, where Salt Harvest and The Café at Salt Harvest provide nourishing fare in spaces rich with texture and light. White clay plaster walls – an homage to Seattle’s clay-rich soil – soften the timber framing, while the Solarium offers a striking juxtaposition of weight and lightness. Nature-focused handcrafted accessories include ocean-hued pottery by Portland-based Kati von Lehman and hand-crafted paper flowers by Quyhn Nguyen in glass vases by Gary Bodker featured on dining tables.
The rooftop bar, Firn, features sweeping views of the Seattle skyline and Olympic Mountains. Rich ruby hues echo local sunset and alpine landscapes, while the nature-based cocktail menu and Pacific Northwest-themed playing cards invite playful curiosity and a deeper connection to place. The rooftop also hosts the Summit Suite, an expansive sanctuary inclusive of a dining area with a custom wood table created by local artisan Chadhaus, a kitchen island by Splinter & Slag with reclaimed car decking countertops, a deep soaking tub, and private terrace. All common areas and the Summit Suite also feature hand-made, one-of-a-kind tribal rugs, sourced locally from Turabi Rug Gallery and made from vegetable dyes and hand spun wool..
Populus Seattle’s 120 guest rooms and suites serve as serene retreats, infused with the calm, layered beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Timber beams and exposed, newly plastered brick walls reflect the building’s past while embracing modern texture and tone. Inspired by the Olympic and Cascade Mountain ranges, rooms feature a palette of deep greens, rich blues, and warm neutrals. Custom wood and leather furniture strike a balance between classic and contemporary, while metal and textured glass partitions separate the bathroom and sleeping areas, creating a sense of openness and connection. Finishing touches include locally blown glass vases, hand-thrown clay mugs, and carefully sourced seashells and driftwood.
An Art Collection that Celebrates Nature, Culture and Creativity
Populus Seattle honors its surroundings through a dynamic, 300+ piece art collection curated in partnership with global art production house ARTXIV. Representing the most significant revival of regional art since the legendary Northwest School movement of the mid-20th century, the collection features commissioned works from 35 acclaimed local, regional and international artists, and celebrates the Pacific Northwest’s landscapes, cultural heritage, and creative pulse. Created on-site during an immersive artist residency, the works reflect the hotel’s Pioneer Square settings – its urban energy, industrial past, and natural environment.
Compositions range from glowing river landscapes and abstractions inspired by Indigenous design to sculptural works that transform industrial elements into symbols of craftsmanship. Still-life pieces highlight the region’s bounty with detailed depictions of salmon, citrus and wildflowers rendered in breathtaking detail.
Oversized works in the lobby greet guests with immediate impact, including Przemysław Blejzyk’s Garden Sequence 070624, whichshowcases the interplay of traditional landscapes and digital-inspired abstraction; Kimberly Trowbridge’s Night Forest, anatmospheric exploration of a woodland scene at dusk; and Canoe Journey by Joe Feddersen, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,which fuses Indigenous patterns with contemporary urban symbols. Subtle artistic touches are equally intentional. By example, each guestroom door features hand-painted signage and botanical illustrations by artist Sean Barton, inspired by historic techniques of the early 1900s. These details honor tradition while turning the corridors into living narratives that bridge past and present, ecology and architecture.
Dominic Nieri, ARTXIV Director, explains, “The Populus Seattle art collection is a dynamic artistic ecosystem that responds directly to the cultural heartbeat of the region. Our program creates continuous opportunities for artists, actively introduces and supports new creative voices, and ensures a vibrant, evolving dialogue with the community. We aim for every visitor to feel deeply connected to this ongoing evolution of contemporary art.”
At Populus Seattle, art is foundational – shaping guestrooms, lobbies, and gathering spaces into immersive environments that inspire creativity and emotional connection.
Environmentally Forward Hospitality
Populus Seattle is 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 starts with its adaptive reuse approach, preserving and revitalizing the historic structure, which reduces 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 have been acquired to offset remaining emissions.
Sustainability extends into every interior detail, from materials to furniture to accessories, which are consciously sourced and often repurposed to minimize waste and celebrate local character. This ranges from local antiques given a second life, to the community table at Salt Harvest and the hospitality suite island crafted from reclaimed car decking found onsite, to Firn’s Ukidama Screen, a Japanese float wall made from salvaged buoys, and shell accessories in guestrooms, all ethically gathered from permitted beaches only after the animals had naturally vacated them.
Not only is Populus Seattle’s design informed by the harmony of nature, the hotel also takes active steps to support the environment by planting a tree for every night’s stay as a part of Populus Hotels’ One Night, One Tree Program. This ethos of environmental stewardship is woven throughout each aspect of the guest experience, offering a stay that is not only sustainable, but meaningfully connected to the natural world.
To 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 brought to life in collaboration with Aparium Hotel Group, a visionary operator of independent, luxury lifestyle hotels. Populus Hotels is comprised of the award-winning Populus Denver and Populus Seattle. For more information, visit www.urban-villages.com and www.aparium.com.
Photography by Ric Stovall
