Baha Bay at Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, Bahamas was created to deliver a world-class water park experience within a luxury resort setting. It serves guests from three different hotel brands, as well as outside guests on the island.

With clientele from across the globe, the design for Baha Bay carefully considered how to create everything, from romantic experiences for couples wanting secluded lounge areas, to a world-class thrill experience for teens, and fun adventures for young families. Baha Bay's incredible assortment of aquatic activities was designed to compete with the best water park amenities in the world.

Inspiration
The Baha Mar Resort is formulated to be an authentic Bahamas resort experience, motivated by traditional architectural designs local to the area.
The Baha Bay Water Park needed to reflect that aesthetic as well.

Traditionally, Bahamian architecture was created by the blend of European and African influences. The design of Baha Bay had three separate, yet subtle themes based on those traditions. This included research into the clapboard cottages, colonial homes, and straw markets that defined the built form in the Bahamas.

The landscape design incorporates elements in the landscape that are representative of the local stone character. This aesthetic is evident in the natural stone textures in the water features and shell patterns in the walkways, and the use of natural stone within the actual pools. The plant palette is lush and varied, bringing a very natural feel to the project.

Imparting a Relaxing Experience
The Baha Bay Beach Club stretches between a grove of swaying palms and pure white sands, featuring historical references and aesthetic influences of island contemporary and Georgian design throughout.
At the edge of Cable Beach, two infinity edge pools offer quiet pool experiences and unobstructed views of turquoise waters in a luxe setting while basking in the poolside lounge areas or unwinding in the hammocks and daybeds.

 
For those who seek seclusion, there are well-appointed cabanas and a full-service experience, including coastal California inspired cuisine and drinks from the beach club's cornerstone restaurant, 25??N.
The Beach Club offers a serene enclave in the larger Baha Mar Resort, away from the hubbub and high energy of the adjacent Baha Bay Water Park, which includes multiple flowing rivers that integrate into infinity edge pools that overlook the Caribbean Ocean.

Bringing the Fun
The diverse experiences required for resort guests include family water rides and thrill rides, setting a new standard for quality and innovation, as many are considered the first of its kind in the Caribbean, or even the world.

The park design also addresses this larger variety of guests by providing eight different dining options, designing the overall project to incorporate separately themed areas for different age groups/guest experiences, and being fully accessible for all guests.

The Details
The project is located on a site that was initially occupied by three large hotel towers. To prepare the site for development, the team had to implode the three towers without damaging several other hotel buildings directly adjacent.

Additionally, the island did not have the equipment to remove or demolish the resulting building materials and foundations for these towers. The design had to incorporate reuse of the material on site and the incorporation of the massive foundations in the design of the grading and building locations. They then developed a system to recycle this material to utilize it in the construction of the project.

Baha Bay incorporates several innovative features in the project. With limited access to water and power on the island, these features had to be carefully designed to be as efficient as possible.

With such limited space, the project was designed with several large underground buildings to support the massive infrastructure that makes all these aquatic environments work. The underground environment had to be designed to incorporate existing foundations, a high-water table, operation access, multiple phases of construction, and foundational support for both buildings and rides above them.

Working in the Caribbean always has an extra level of challenge in material and equipment access. The project design had to balance using as much local material as they could, as well as importing several elements to build a water park of this scale and quality in the Bahamas. Each material and design method were carefully considered, to be as effective as possible, and to minimize the enormous challenge of limited access to the typical construction materials and methods.

Baha Bay was designed and built to set a new standard of water park and resort amenities in the Caribbean and the world. This project had an incredible number of experiences in tight and complicated site design. The project includes several first of its kind, including a gaming pavilion, a variety rides, and the integration of local artists that created a new standard in water park spaces.

Confronting Issues
The project was built and opened during the COVID-19 pandemic which complicated its construction with the closing of suppliers' factories, closing of the port, and minimal travel to the island.

The owner made the commitment to push through these challenges and open the project during a period of limited travel and tourism. This commitment to creating this special place with so many unknowns regarding when the project would be open or even if tourism would be open on the island, represents the exceptional vision that fueled Baha Mar to become the premier destinationin the Caribbean.

The Upshot
Baha Bay was designed and built to set a new standard of water park and resort amenities in the Caribbean and the world. The result has garnered many accolades and awards including the World Travel Awards Caribbean's Leading Water Park and World Waterpark Association's Leading Edge Award.

TEAM LIST
Owner: CTF Development
Prime Consultant: DTJ DESIGN - John Torti, lead designer/project manager, Bill Campie, principal in charge
Civil Engineer: CCS / Structural Engineer: CCS
MEP: JB&B
Aquatic Designer: Cloward H2O / Slide Provider: Proslide
Lighting Designer: Archiluce / Interior Designer: Gensler