The owners of the Grand Odyssey Theatre aimed to bring a modern theatre experience with state-of-the-art amenities to Watertown, South Dakota. To deliver on this promise, they needed to construct a theatre with tall walls that would allow for stadium seating. This need was even more challenging in a region that is plagued by high winds. The general contractor had not used Fox Blocks or ICF before but felt assured that even in this windy climate, by using a standoff bracket for the turnbuckle attached to the masonry frames, the walls would remain straight while the concrete was being poured.

The contractor also had to solve for poor soil conditions, which required having to excavate and replace the existing soil. This site issue was unforeseen and, as a result, extended the project timeline, carrying construction into the bitter winter months. In fact, the last Fox Blocks pour took place in subzero temps; the predicted high that day was -15℉.

After the pour, only the top of the wall was covered with insulation. The following day, the project superintendent removed a piece of the insulation, expecting the concrete to be frozen; but, to his disbelief, it was not. Thanks to Fox Blocks, the concrete maintained its integrity, despite freezing temps.

Project Stats

Location: Watertown, South Dakota
Industry: Entertainment
Type: Cinema
Size: 24,351 sq. ft. (floor)
ICF Use: 43,923 sq. ft.
Cost: $5 million
Total Construction: 36 weeks
ICF Installation: 38 days

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