Canada’s First Sky Glass Cube Just Opened at Malahat SkyWalk on Vancouver Island

I’ve always been a bit of a daredevil, with a normal fear of heights. But when I was invited for the unveiling of the Malahat SkyWalk’s newest attraction, The Overhang, my love of adventure and nature won out.

As soon as I walk onto The Overhang, a glass cube suspended 250 metres above sea level, my fear dissipates. The thrill of looking at a grand, open-air gallery where nature’s artistry is on full display is nothing short of spectacular. From all sides, B.C.’s world-renowned landscapes, such as the Saanich Inlet and the Gulf Islands, and Washington State’s San Juan Islands and Mount Baker, beckon you.

My sentiments of awe are shared by other visitors, according to Nathan Bird, general manager of Malahat SkyWalk.

“We hear it all the time, our guests arrive saying, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ and then two minutes later they’re standing in The Overhang grinning, taking photos and telling everyone else they have to try it,” says Bird. “It’s definitely built for a thrill, but it is also incredibly secure, and once inside, the stunning views quickly take over. People leave saying they can’t believe that they almost didn’t do it.”

The Overhang, which opened over the May long weekend, is the Malahat SkyWalk’s biggest innovation since opening its doors in July 2021. People from across the province and beyond have gravitated to the Malahat SkyWalk’s distinctive attractions since its inception. This year, the company will welcome its one millionth guest.

The idea for The Overhang came from Dave Brownlie, director of the Malahat SkyWalk, who was inspired by the glass cube over the Chamonix SkyWalk in the French Alps.

“Dave was pretty excited when he saw the 80-minute line-up for the Chamonix SkyWalk,” says Bird. “So, he thought, let’s try to do this on the [Malahat] SkyWalk.”

Custom-built by Endwise Construction, The Overhang is the only multi-layered structural glass cube in the world to be connected to the top of a 10-storey spiral tower, and the only one of its kind in the country.

B.C.-based structural engineering firm, ASPECT, which designed The Overhang, is also responsible for the corkscrew design of the SkyWalk’s Spiral Tower.

The five-sided cube features a steel support frame and multiple layers of structural glass on all three sides, the floor and the ceiling. The Overhang is fully accessible to all visitors, holding up to six guests at a time. But it can handle up to 4,900 pounds—the weight of 2.5 elephants—far exceeding the recommended capacity.

“It’s been a labour of love for the past two-and-a-half years because of the amount of engineering and logistics that have gone into putting a unique structure on the side of another unique structure in a seismic zone using the highest standards in the world,” adds Bird.

The unveiling opened with a traditional welcome by Jared Williams, a member of the Malahat Nation, on whose traditional and ancestral territory the 170-acre property lies. Representatives from Destination Greater Victoria and MLA for Juan de Fuca-Malahat, Dana Lajeunesse, were also present to commemorate the opening.

More to Explore in Oak Bay

I arrived a day before the opening in Oak Bay, a seaside community on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, about 15 minutes away from downtown Victoria.

I was checked into the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Tucked away on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, this oceanside oasis welcomes travellers for an indulgent getaway. Recognized as the #7 hotel in Western Canada by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards for several years, this English-inspired manor house offers a coastal escape that is equal parts lavish and laidback.

Once my bag was unpacked, I set out to explore Oak Bay, a picturesque neighbourhood of about 18,000 residents. Walking along Beach Drive, I passed the historic Victoria Golf Club, several heritage homes, the beach and a few lookout points to reach a few Adirondack chairs perched on the rocks to enjoy the ocean view and the Olympic Mountains.

With ample time before dinner, I grabbed a bathrobe and made my way to the oceanfront pool. The centrepieces of the Oak Bay Beach Hotel are its heated outdoor mineral pool, two hot tubs and Stargazing Sauna. I indulged in the restorative benefits of this mineral-rich pool, as the soothing heat was the perfect antidote to my tired muscles.

Read More: 13 Saunas, Spas and Wellness Spots Around Victoria to Feel Rejuvenated

A short drive from the hotel, I met my colleagues for dinner at Vis-à-Vis Bouchon Bar, a quaint French restaurant that transports you to the cobblestone streets of France. Sourcing local ingredients whenever possible, Vis-à-Vis’s carte du jour highlights French-inspired West Coast-driven cuisine in a truly intimate setting. You can enjoy classic French dishes like boeuf bourguignon, Nicoise salad and French onion soup, or try less traditional French dishes like Salmon Wellington and the spinach and beetroot salad. The savoury aromas, ambient lighting and the light banter among guests enjoying a glass of fine French wine created a lively evening.

After dinner, I spent some time on my private deck taking in the sounds of the Salish Sea and the views from the hotel’s lit pools.

In the morning, it was time to fuel up at the hotel’s iconic 1954 pub-restaurant, The Snug, and its unobstructed front-row seats to the ocean. I chose the avocado toast, a hearty mix of crushed avocado, extra-virgin olive oil, lemon, roasted pumpkin seeds, cashew romesco, sea salt, and Tajin seasoning on toasted artisan sourdough bread.

All too soon, it was time to head home, with a promise to come back to revisit the adventures that Victoria and the Malahat SkyWalk offer.