In a state known as a hotbed of ICF construction for the previous decade, being the largest ICF project in the state is no idle boast. The 15-screen CineMagic Atlantis theater, located just south of Minneapolis, used more than 83,000 sq. ft of ICF walls.

The decision to build with ICFs resulted in significant savings on structural steel, and on labor as well. Thanks to ICFs’ sound absorbing qualities, the theaters need just one layer of drywall on each side of the wall instead of three.

The owner built a nearly identical theater nearby with precast panels, so comparing maintenance and energy costs should provide some real-world meaningful data on ICF performance.

The theater has been featured in a local business news publication and used by ICF distributor Cemstone—which sells 70% or more of the ready mix concrete in the state—in presentations to local architects.