The brand new International helo Sauna & Spa Academy is offering two-day training sessions for architects and project planners on how to design spas according to the latest trends and efficiency targets.

The German thermal spa zone supplier helo created the academy – located in Knüllwald-Wallenstein, Germany – which will teach architects and project planners about the design possibilities for spas – using helo’s range of saunas, heaters, control equipment sauna accessories, infrared heat cabins and steambaths in demonstrations.

Set to take place on 18 and 19 February 2015, helo is offering to reimburse the travel costs for the first 15 participants who register for the course. The minimum number of participants is five and the maximum is fifteen.

Attendees will receive technical theory knowledge in addition to practical examples to aid with system planning. Participants will be able to put their new knowledge into practice within the academy’s fully functioning spa area.

Speaking to Spa Opportunities, Patrick Bolte – general manager of helo – explained that while he would not want to limit attendees based on their level of understanding of the subject, this seminar's content is beyond the spa consultancy level.

“The helo academy will hopefully bring spa design closer to architects because 90 per cent don’t know what they are doing,” said Bolte. “We will teach attendees the ritual of spa, the trends, what’s old fashioned and what does not work. We debate the planning facts – we outline the first ten most important topics to debate even before any sketches can be made of the facility.

“The seminar will involve working from the first steps of a project to the delivery of what the client needs, while keeping spa planning facts in mind,” said Bolte. “At least three hours of the session will be based on pure technical knowledge. Participants need to think about why and how a heater is made the way it is and the importance of the technical room’s location. The water supply, electrical systems and ventilation systems cannot overheat, so they need to be connected to both the treatment rooms and the reception desk via an easily operable interface.

"At the end of the seminar, there will be a spa on the whiteboard used to teach students, which we will have created together," said Bolte.

"The academy’s teaching concept is to provide an exchange, rather than dictating spa rules,” said Bolte.

"We trialled the academy in May this year with a group of architects from countries in the Middle East and it was a huge success,” continued Bolte. “We plan to hold the seminars two or three times a year, depending on feedback.”

Following the completion of the seminar, all participants receive a qualification certificate – which pronounces them authorised helo specialist advisors for saunas, infrared cabins, steambaths, sauna equipment and sauna accessories.

The closing date for registration is 15 January 2015.