Five-Sauna, Four-Plunge Wellness Facility Plans September Opening on South Broadway
DENVER, CO — A new sauna and cold-plunge facility is moving forward on South Broadway, with plans to transform an existing commercial property into a communal bathing facility with five saunas, four plunge pools, locker rooms and a café.
Interior Rendering of Outdoor Sauna | Courtesy of Kota Saunas
Kota Saunas is planned for 1710 and 1720 S. Broadway, where a commercial construction permit is currently in progress with the City and County of Denver. The project carries a total construction valuation of approximately $712,600 and includes construction, demolition, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. City records identify approximately 5,953 square feet of gross floor area associated with the primary construction scope.
According to the project's operational plans, Kota is designed around a guided hot-and-cold contrast bathing experience. The facility would include five electric saunas with combined seating for 68 people, along with three temperature-controlled plunge pools and a fourth ADA-accessible plunge pool. All four plunge pools are planned at a uniform depth of four feet.
Exterior Rendering of Outdoor Cold Plunge | Courtesy of Kota Saunas
The project will make use of both the existing building and an adjoining outdoor area. The building at 1710 S. Broadway is being remodeled to accommodate the check-in area, locker rooms, shower rooms and other interior spaces, while the outdoor area at 1720 S. Broadway will contain the saunas, plunge pools and deck.
The redevelopment includes work associated with the property's existing structures. Structural engineering documents indicate the buildings at 1710 and 1720 S. Broadway were constructed at different times. The structure at 1720 reportedly sustained fire damage approximately 15 years ago, resulting in the removal of its roof diaphragm while portions of its walls and support structure remained. The current project includes structural improvements to address those existing conditions, including masonry wall bracing and new foundations for the bracing system.
Exterior Rendering of Kota Saunas | Courtesy of Kota Saunas
Inside, Kota's plans include men's and women's locker rooms, lockers and benches, six showers in each of two shower rooms and an ADA-accessible transfer shower. The bathing area would operate with a maximum of 70 guests at one time, while project documents acknowledge an overall maximum facility capacity of 120 people. Sessions are planned in one-hour blocks staggered every 30 minutes to control the number of guests moving through the facility.
A reception café is also planned at the front of the facility. Denver's Department of Public Health and Environment (DDPHE) approved plans for a limited-service café in August. The proposed operation includes specialty coffee and other hot drinks, sodas, kombucha, draft beer and alcohol-free beer, along with a small selection of bakery items and protein balls prepared off-site. No on-site cooking or raw-ingredient preparation is proposed.
Exterior Rendering of Outdoor Cold Plunge | Courtesy of Kota Saunas
Because Denver's existing pool regulations were not specifically written for cold-plunge facilities, DDPHE issued additional operating and design requirements for the project. The department is requiring the plunges to follow applicable standards from the Model Aquatic Health Code, including requirements related to filtration, water quality, turnover rates, water depth, handholds, emergency controls and guest safety information.
Kota plans to operate seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to its operational summary. The facility is planned for guests 18 and older. Kota Saunas is currently targeting an opening later this month. The commercial construction permit remains listed as in progress with the city as the project moves toward opening.
Development Team
Owner: Kota Saunas
Architect: Gebhart Studio
Structural Engineer: Anthem Structural Engineers
Read More About Upcoming Construction Projects
Get a deeper dive on the who, what, when and why behind the city’s next construction projects.
Interested in sponsorship? Learn more about a founding sponsors and how to get involved.
All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.
5 minute read • Kota Saunas plans to open a new Denver location at 1720 S. Broadway with five saunas, four cold plunges, locker rooms, showers and a café.