Poor communication can derail any relationship. Whether it’s with a spouse, a work colleague, or a construction team, it’s crucial to effectively articulate expectations, timelines, and potential challenges that will need to be solved.
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success,’’ said Henry Ford, founder of the automotive giant.
Ford’s enduring message hit home for the principles involved in the construction of The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater at dōTERRA, a $65 million theater in Pleasant Grove, Utah. The project includes two theaters with seating for 1,074 guests and spans a whopping 77,950 square feet. It replaces the 7,000 square-foot Hale Center Theater in nearby Orem, which opened in 1990 and had a seating capacity of 305.
Working with the team at The Ruth and architects at Method Studio, Layton Construction completed the project in just two years. While walls might have been erected, breaking down communication barriers early triggered the swift building process.
CMGC METHOD
The project came together so quickly due in large part to the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) delivery method. In this process, every contractor is integrated early on to enhance collaboration and streamline processes.
The approach minimizes risks and controls costs. It also ensures projects are delivered on time and within budget.
“The architects, the construction firm—we got the A team from both of those companies and people who knew what they were doing,” says Troy Anderson, project manager for The Ruth. “By all estimates, this project should have taken two and a half years. We did it in two, just breakneck speed. We had an amazing team that was not only extremely talented, but they were all extremely excited to be a part of this project and help it through.”
In traditional construction projects, design and construction occur independently. The CMGC approach develops teamwork from start to finish. Layton, which was founded in 1953, is headquartered in nearby Salt Lake City and was a natural choice for the task.
The CMGC method is much faster than a traditional construction process that starts with design followed by bids and eventual construction. The contractor plays a critical role as the project moves into the design phase, as it can ensure the plans are practical, cost-effective, and achievable.
The project also had widespread support from officials and residents in Pleasant Grove, further expediting the process.
“The project was executed through meaningful collaboration with the general contractor, and the delivery of multiple bid packages that separated site plan and utility scope, structural steel and footings/foundations, and remainder of the building components (envelope, MEP systems, and interior finishes),’’ says Todd Kelsey, architect for Method Studio. “Close collaboration with Pleasant Grove City on permitting, plotting, and review processes also aided in the quick development of the project.”
EXPERIENCED PARTNER
Layton has experience in an assortment of projects—everything from government, healthcare, hospitality, and higher education—but has also set the stage for many entertainment venues.
One of its signature projects is the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City, which opened in 2016 and spans 148,000 square feet. Its seating capacity is nearly 2,500.
The Ruth includes two 50-foot masonry walls that provide structural support for the building and mitigate sound between the theaters. A basement groundwater system pumps out nearly 75 gallons of water per minute.
The interior features the latest advancements in theater technology. The structure includes a club lounge and ballroom that can accommodate up to 200 guests, an education wing tailored to arts instruction with eight private studios, and a spacious lobby in which patrons can mingle prior to the show.
While the new building is more than 10 times that of the Hale Center Theater Orem, the primary objective was to maintain the intimacy patrons enjoyed at the much smaller venue.
“When you walk into the Smith Grand Theater, it doesn’t feel like a 670-seat theater,’’ Anderson says. “I feel like we achieved our goal of creating a small, intimate setting. When you’re sitting in the front row, you feel close to the performance.”
FIRE PROTECTION
The project includes three automatic smoke vents from The Bilco Company for The Ruth. Smoke vents assist firefighting efforts and promote safe building evacuation by removing smoke, heat, and toxic fumes from a burning building.
The Bilco smoke vents, which measure 6 feet by 8 feet, 6.5 inches, are motorized and equipped with push-button stations for fast opening. Cannon Sales, Bilco’s representative in Utah, procured the vents for Alder’s Building Specialties.
“Code prescribes the required total area, and we are tasked with coordinating the most efficient layout and overall approach to meet the life safety needs,’’ says Kelsey, whose team with Method included Jessica Batty and Joe Smith. “There are several options that meet the code requirements of smoke venting in these scenarios, but Bilco also provided an opportunity for enhanced operability and safety for the smoke vents.”
TOWN TREASURE
With slightly more than 37,000 residents, Pleasant Grove is considerably smaller than its neighboring state counterparts, Salt Lake City (nearly 210,000) and Provo (slightly more than 113,000).
But The Ruth is more than just another building or theater. It is an asset that will lure guests from its larger neighbors and other nearby communities. The economic impact is consequential, but The Ruth also further solidifies the tight-knit community.
“We’ve seen what theater does for people, both within our organization and outside, and it’s quite powerful,’’ says The Ruth’s Director of Public Relations & Strategic Partnerships Sydney Dameron. “This building is brick and mortar and all those things that are necessary to do what we do, but it also allows us to provide the power of theater to more of the community.”
about the author
Thomas Renner writes on building, construction and other trade industry topics for publications throughout the United States.