2025 Mountain States Best Projects
Best Cultural/Worship: The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater at Doterra
The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater at Doterra
Pleasant Grove, Utah
BEST PROJECT
Submitted by Layton Construction
Owner Hale Center Theater Orem / Pleasant Grove City
Lead Design Firm Method Studio
General Contractor Layton Construction
The Hale Center Theater’s relocation from Orem to Pleasant Grove after 30 years of performances came with a name change as it finds its footing on a new campus. The new Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater is a 77,950-sq-ft facility that includes a 1,074-seat main theater, the 775-seat grand theater and a 299-seat studio theater, which is a nod to the theater’s original Orem space.
On the outside, the building’s features include locally sourced Delta stone alongside metal panels and extensive glasswork. Inside, the theater has high-end wood paneling in the lobbies, VIP rooms, ballrooms and the main theater.
Completed in December 2024, the theater is also home to the Hale Center Foundation for Arts and Education. With advanced technology, local materials that tie the theater to its surroundings and spaces that nurture future talent, this facility was designed to be a hub for creativity, education and entertainment.
In addition to the performance spaces, the facility includes rehearsal studios and recording spaces. Top-tier sound systems, state-of-the-art lighting and intimate staging are designed to bring every performance to life.
Photo courtesy Layton Construction
Supporting the building are 50-ft-tall CMU core walls, which ensure stability and allow for more open spaces, which was crucial for the theater’s design. Additionally, to minimize noise and vibration, slab isolation was used throughout the building to improve the acoustics and overall theater experience.
Both bigger theaters feature a large catwalk system, but due to their size and weight, safely installing each one required precise planning and coordination. Once the catwalks were installed, the team placed risers on the raker beams, ensuring the seating layout would be structurally sound and meet all safety standards.
An underground ductwork system provides the theater with efficient and quiet heating and cooling, but unexpected groundwater complicated the installation. The team quickly developed a comprehensive groundwater management system that diverts water for irrigation usage, helping address the groundwater issue and enhancing the building’s overall sustainability. The system pumps 75 gallons of water per minute.
