Overview

Aether Haus is unlike any other cold plunge experience in Vancouver. Where most spa concepts focus on individual tubs and self-guided exposure, this space offers a group-oriented journey led by a dedicated wellness coach who guides users through breathwork, hot-cold exposure, and body awareness.

Team Pacific was brought on as the General Contractor for Aether Haus, working alongside the teams at CMG Construction Services and Karina Hamman Creative to build the first of it’s kind wellness experience in Vancouver.

Project Challenges

Delivering a concept this unique meant navigating uncharted territory:

• A dispersed consultant team, with designers and professionals based out of province

• Health compliance hurdles with vague guidance from Vancouver Coastal Health

• Accessibility requirements for cold plunge spaces - a category the city had never fully defined

• Material performance in high-moisture areas

• First-of-its-kind installation, including craning pools through removed glazing on busy Denman Street

Our Approach

• Proactive Communication

Rather than rely on slow-moving email chains, we utilized our weekly cross-party calls to talk through issues in real time. This helped close gaps between design intent, code requirements, and build execution.

• Code Navigation & Health Compliance

This type of business model is fairly new ground in the city, and Vancouver Coastal Health’s spa guidance was limited, so we:

• Developed internal wellness compliance checklists

• Guided the client through posting rules, procedures, and operational signage

• Ensured non-slip surfaces, visible clocks, and safe circulation around the plunge areas

• Supported the creation of a formal pool operations plan for city approval

• Material & Flow Intelligence

By observing how guests move through the space - from sauna to cold plunge to lounge - we’re building smarter, more intuitive spa layouts. This learning is already informing upcoming builds, where we’re able to identify certain areas that require specific material selections for durability and longevity.

Noteworthy Features

• Large-format commercial sauna with a Himalayan salt wall (requiring mid-build ventilation changes to prevent overheating)

• Textured rock wall, crafted with styrofoam and drywall mud for dramatic visual impact

• Craned-in plunge pools, requiring full Denman Street shutdown and glazing removal

What We're Proud Of

“This project was full of firsts for Vancouver at large. From wrangling out-of-province consultants to solving accessibility compliance creatively, our team leaned into every challenge with care and clarity. We learned a lot — and we’re taking those lessons forward as we help shape the next generation of wellness spaces in Vancouver.”

Photos: Brett Ryan Studios