Scene from a Dream Team Session - Spa Consultants, Designers and Contractors Working Together

A Spa Site Guest Article by Polly Johnson, Hydro Spa Consulting

For over 15 years. Hydro Spa Consulting has had the privilege to work with many dream teams comprised of the best spa consultants, designers and contractors in the business. Here’s a scene from one of those meetings convened to discuss construction of a single wet treatment room.

The Scene: The Design Review Meeting at the architectural firm WATG.

The Players: A Dream Team of seasoned professionals led by the Senior Project Manager at WATG and the resorts Director of Spa Development who is the Spa Guru who will pull together all the operations.  The balance of this cast includes the creative (interiors) and the crotchety (engineering consultants for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC). Hydro Spa Consulting is here as the technical spa consultant.

The Plot: The team has eight hours to orchestrate all of the technical and creative needs of the spa including a complex wet room that includes a Swiss shower, Vichy shower and hydrotherapy tub. Can they overcome the problems inherent in such a multifaceted construction?  

The Twist: Each member of the team is responsible for an essential piece of the construction puzzle, but it’s not always easy to determine how they’re going to fit, especially when the requirement of one conflicts with the needs of another.   

• As technical consultant, I am prepared with detailed descriptions of the equipment, technical requirements for installation and details necessary to build out this room to accommodate the spa equipment. 

• The spa consultant is focused on making sure the finished room will live up to the Nirvana-like experience she is creating and the resort’s clientele demands.

• The interior designer is dreaming of textures, harmonious balance of colors selections, and designing the millwork to hide all our equipment.

• The lighting consultant wants to illuminate the room with natural light in the day and soft lights after dark.

• The electrician is looking for enough power and circuits to drive the room.  

• The plumbing contractor needs enough water pressure and drainage to operate the Vichy, Swiss and hydrotub all at the same time.

• HVAC is deep into the heating and ventilations issues. No mildew allowed in here.

• The construction staff is look for the best way to slope the floor to avoid any messy run off of water.

• A sound consultant is wondering how to soften the sounds of the room, add music and sound proof the room.

Did we do it?  Yes! Is was not an easy task, but I have to hand it to the WATG Senior Project Manager: when she tapped her pencil it worked like a magic wand to keep the team focused on finding solutions rather than bogging down in problems.  Of course, this meeting was only one of several.  At each milestone review, this team of seasoned professionals scrutinized the project from every angle.  Today, you can enjoy the glorious results at The Golden Door Spa at the Boulders Resort in Carefree, Arizona.