In South Jordan, Utah, the Larry H. Miller Megaplex Daybreak Family Entertainment Center is the largest ICF megaplex theater built in years. The $28 million, 78,000-square-foot facility was developed by Larry H. Miller Real Estate and built by Okland Construction with ICF installer IMS Masonry.
The project used more than 90,000 square feet of exterior ICF walls and another 68,000 square feet of interior ICF walls. ICF installation took only 160 days out of 60 weeks of construction. Randy Daniels, a representative of Fox Blocks by Airlite Plastics Co., who served as form manufacturer on the project, said using ICFs saved the team six to eight weeks of work time.

Design and Construction
“As the first-ever cinema entertainment center by Megaplex, part of the Larry H. Miller Sports and Entertainment Group, the project is unique to Utah and sets a new standard for entertainment venues in the region,” Daniels said. “While this marks the 18th movie theater for Megaplex and for the Larry H. Miller Company, it is the first true cinema entertainment center for the brand, blending the cinematic experience with a variety of high-end amenities such as 18 interactive bowling lanes, a 65-game arcade with a prize redemption area, and elevated Megaplex Dining options.”

Many of the ICF walls run more than 50 feet tall. Daniels said an average of 250 cubic yards of concrete were poured each week. “On many days, crews exceeded 2,500 square feet of Fox Blocks stacked per shift, consistently surpassing expectations,” he said.

ICF construction eliminated the need for a traditional rear facade, which opened up space for a local artist to paint a custom mural directly onto the finished ICF wall. This is now the building’s most recognizable feature. The ICF system also let the team span the depth of four auditoriums with structural framing, creating room for a future tenant space above them. In the bowling and lounge areas, ICFs allowed for large openings to bring in natural light and open up views toward a nearby stadium and the surrounding mountains.

Construction and Site Considerations
The Megaplex went up on a small lot close to the road. A full baseball stadium and other buildings were under construction on the same site at the same time. The team also had to hit a hard deadline for the grand opening to coincide with the nearby baseball stadium’s opening season, with the crews working throughout the winter to meet that timeline.

With its site adjacent to a stadium, the building needed noise mitigation. The ICF walls both cut outside noise and improved energy performance at the same time. “The insulating value of the ICF blocks helped reduce heat loss, which contributed to overall energy savings,” Daniels said. The building envelope is expected to exceed code requirements by 25%, based on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code ComCheck.

Fox Blocks and IMS Masonry have collaborated on previous Megaplex theaters. Daniels said Fox Blocks was selected for the project due to their competitive pricing and the strength of their clipping system, which provides enhanced stability and durability when constructing tall walls. “IMS Masonry was selected due to their extensive experience and proven expertise in ICF construction, particularly specializing in tall wall applications,” Daniels said. He added that the owner’s satisfaction with operating costs at the previously constructed Fox Blocks theaters made the decision to build with ICFs easy: “ICF was chosen for its low schedule risk and ability to accelerate the fast-track timeline,” he noted.

Significance to the Industry
The project stands out even though the pandemic era created a slowdown in new theater construction. “The Larry H. Miller Megaplex at America First Plaza, Daybreak Family Entertainment Center stands out as one of the largest commercial entertainment ICF projects in the North American market, particularly in the post-COVID era, where new theater construction has significantly declined,” Daniels said. The project drew coverage from Utah newspapers, magazines, and local newscasts, and Daniels says the owner was satisfied with the outcome from day one: “The project has been a clear success — exceeding expectations in schedule, performance, and community impact.”