Prize(s) Winners in Hospitality Lighting Design
Lighting Design/Product Company LS Group
Lead Designers Kristen Miller
Other Designer's names Sarah Erickson
Architecture Company Studio Gang, Fowler Architecture and Planning
Interior Design Company Wildman Chalmers Design
Client Urban Villages
Photo Credits Draper White Photography
Completion Date October 2024
Project Location Denver, Colorado
Entry DescriptionAn iconic addition to the Denver skyline, this 13-story hotel is an ode to nature and human ingenuity. Within, an elegant and understated lighting approach takes the guest experience from impressive to unforgettable.
Inspired by Colorado’s aspen tree, the design mirrors its distinctive eye-shaped markings in the window geometry and channels the natural flow of energy from root to branch. Lighting reinforces this narrative—grounded and restorative at entry, elevated and celebratory at the top.
At the entry level, layered illumination highlights a sculptural mycelium installation in the signature restaurant, while custom fixtures and dappled light effects evoke sunlight through the forest canopy. Guestroom floors adopt a softer rhythm with low-wattage, high-efficiency fixtures that minimize glare and enhance comfort. Corridors integrate dimming and occupancy controls to conserve energy and maintain tranquility.
At the rooftop bar, warm, golden light evokes dining beneath a starry sky thanks to 150 warming gels that were hand-inserted to unify color temperature.
High-efficiency LEDs, advanced controls, and rigorously vetted decorative fixtures balance sustainability, emotion, and performance, resulting in an integrated lighting experience that elevates both architecture and atmosphere.
Sustainability ApproachAs Denver’s first carbon-positive hotel, this project weaves sustainability into every facet of its lighting design. High-efficiency LEDs, daylight harvesting, and advanced dimming and occupancy controls reduce energy consumption, surpassing local power density requirements by 22%. The absence of exterior lighting allows the façade to glow naturally from within, its tree-inspired windows embodying a connection to nature and restraint. Reflective surfaces amplify illumination, minimizing fixture counts and material use, while decorative selections balance efficiency with warmth and atmosphere. The result is a lighting strategy that unites sustainability, technical precision, and emotional impact, proving that environmental responsibility can be both beautiful and transformative.
