The Ruth and Nathan Hale Theater was designed to set a new standard for performing arts venues in Utah, with a focus on advanced technology, guest experience and life safety. To support this goal, the project team incorporated BILCO motorized smoke vents as a critical part of the building’s fire protection strategy. The vents provide rapid, automated venting of smoke, heat and toxic fumes during a fire, helping facilitate emergency response and safe evacuation. Architects from Method Studio selected the BILCO smoke vents for their durability, seamless operability and proven performance in large-scale commercial buildings. Unlike many theater projects that require acoustical venting to mitigate exterior noise, this theater’s location allowed for standard BILCO smoke vents, offering cost efficiency without compromising safety.
“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. 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.”
Todd Kelsey, Method Studio