Story Building: Secrets of Narrative Placemaking and Design from Entertainment Architecture

Every building tells a story. These stories are grounded in our emotional connection to architecture. Our built environment protects us, surrounds us, defines us, and gives us a place to live our lives. The better you understand a building’s story, the better you can enlist others into your vision.

In this program on narrative architecture, Steve Tatham, one of the world’s leading theme park designers, will discuss how theme parks use story techniques to create unforgettable built environments and how you can use these practices to bring your built projects to life. Steve will draw lessons from his career building immersive experiences, including what he learned designing America’s newest theme park, Universal’s Epic Universe, which opened in May 2025.