By Jon Buerge, president of Urban Villages
Buildings currently account for 45% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., so it’s never been more critical that the real estate industry evolves towards a greener future. As developers take a strategic approach toward change, there are several “trends” emerging, from utilizing innovative sustainable materials to infusing nature into urban environments. At Urban Villages, we have implemented many of these strategies into our own projects to lay the blueprint for building a sustainable future. With projects like Populus, the country’s first carbon positive hotel that opened in Denver in fall 2024, and RailSpur, a micro-district in Seattle that’s poised to be one of the country’s most significant adaptive reuse projects, we have had the opportunity to see firsthand the importance of thinking and building sustainably for the betterment of our planet. Developers must consider the following tactics to turn these from simply trends into long-term guiding strategies.
- Innovative Sustainable Building Materials: Swapping traditional building materials like carbon-heavy steel and concrete for innovative eco-friendly alternatives is an “easy” fix and a major immerging trend. We have tapped into this by utilizing low-concrete carbon from ECOPact at Populus, as well as implemented several unique materials to further reduce our carbon footprint including repurposing wood from beetle kill, purchasing carpets made from biodegradable materials, mushroom-derived “leather”, and much more. However, it’s imperative that these innovative materials are responsibly sourced. By example, many builders are using mass timber as a more environmentally responsible material, but this is only a better option if the timber is responsibly and correctly harvested.
- Adaptive Reuse: The revitalization of cities often leads to a detrimental cycle of demolition and rebuilding. At Urban Villages, we hope to break this cycle through adaptive reuse, which not only preserves the architectural heritage of buildings but also minimizes waste and reduces the carbon impact of construction. RailSpur, stands as a shining example of adaptive reuse, adding centuries of new life onto three historic buildings and bringing liveliness to the neighborhood with the opening of a hotel, restaurants, galleries, and much more. Prioritizing preexisting buildings should continue to be a way of creatively building while preserving historic charm.
- The Building of Villages – Not Projects – for Longevity: Rather than focusing on individual buildings or projects, we hope to see more developers focus on adapting entire neighborhoods to consider how people will live, work, dine, shop, play, and connect for generations. In today’s world of flexible work where people can choose to live anywhere, it’s more important than ever to play the long game and instill vibrancy in communities through dynamic shops, residences, offices and businesses, and the activation of public spaces like sidewalks and parks. A key example from us at Urban Villages is the work we did in revitalizing Denver’s iconic Larimer Square, where we permanently closed the street allowing locals and tourists alike to experience a lively square of shops, businesses, and al fresco dining.
- Ushering Nature into Urban Environments: Nature is proven to drastically improve wellness and quality of life, yet has historically been lacking in urban settings. We are on a mission to change this and have worked to infuse biophilic design and green spaces into our cities. For example, Populus’ green rooftop is filled with native plants, and the hotel’s streetscape is designed to bring nature and biodiversity into the heart of the city.
When people think of sustainability, the real estate industry often isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. Yet, at Urban Villages, we are proving that real estate can be a powerful driver of change. Through projects like Populus, we’re not just reducing environmental impact but contributing to a net-positive effect on the planet and raising awareness that sustainability must be a priority to effectively combat climate change. At our core, Urban Villages is a team of environmentalists that do real estate. Our success isn’t just in the projects we build; it’s about inspiring the entire real estate industry towards a more sustainable future.
Jon Buerge is the president of Urban Villages, where he is responsible for all development activities, new company acquisitions, corporate growth, and strategic positioning of all real estate assets. A seasoned leader with two decades of real estate development experience—over 15 years of which have been spent at Urban Villages—Buerge’s expertise spans real estate, investment management, land regulations, market analysis, construction law, due diligence, development, and property management, among many others.
