Epic Universe: A New Chapter in Themed Environments
Super Nintendo World: Dive into the interactive experiences inspired by iconic video game franchises.
The opening of Universal Orlando's Epic Universe marks a monumental moment in the evolution of immersive entertainment. As the first new major theme park in Central Florida in over two decades, Epic Universe isn't just another park—it's a creative milestone that fuses innovative storytelling, world-class artistry, and a staggering level of detail. For the themed construction industry, it serves as a masterclass in what can happen when imagination and execution align.
Destination Sign in Park
A Journey Through the Lands of Epic Universe
Spanning five immersive worlds, the new park invites guests to step into fully realized environments, each with its own unique theme, texture, and design language.
Celestial Park: The dreamy central hub that connects the worlds, featuring carefully integrated hardscapes, water features, and lush garden paths. It's here you'll find the soaring Helios Grand Hotel, grounded by radiant terrazzo floors.
Super Nintendo World: From Mario Kart to Donkey Kong, this land explodes with vibrant color and kinetic architecture. The flooring here features custom textured hardscapes and bold, dynamic theming that transforms concrete into the Mushroom Kingdom.
Dark Universe: A shadowy and gothic realm inspired by Universal's classic monsters. The facades, sculptural elements, and atmospheric ground finishes here bring timeless horror to life through material artistry.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Ministry of Magic: Enter the ornate corridors of magical bureaucracy, where every surface—from the spellbinding tile work underfoot to towering magical facades—has been crafted with detail.
How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk: A Viking village come to life, combining stone textures, rustic colors, and interactive features that blend fantasy with realism.
The Quiet Hand of Craftsmanship
Epic Universe was built on the collective strength of hundreds of artisans, designers, and specialists over the course of many years. While some projects receive the spotlight, many of the finest details are the result of behind-the-scenes dedication.
Among those guiding the creative process was our CEO Matthew Casto, who served as a Principal Production Art Director for the majority of the project: the main in-house resource for design and pre-delivery stages of all hardscapes and complex specialty flooring - including creative sampling, vendor training, troubleshooting, developing hybrid technologies and preconstruction mock-up delivery. His leadership helped unify the vision across different lands, ensuring that each material, texture, and finish not only met aesthetic expectations but also held up to the demands of high-traffic, immersive environments. Though the final phase of the project continued after his departure from Universal Studios, Matthew's influence is embedded in the foundational execution of the park's most iconic environments.
During the initial creative phases, over 1,500 material samples were developed for project-wide creative reviews. These samples spanned all lands and disciplines, and played a critical role in establishing the tactile and visual identity of the park. CASTO’s team meticulously documented every sample to ensure seamless handoff to the production team—a vital bridge between imagination and implementation.
Today, as Epic Universe enters its operational phase, CASTO is once again involved—this time supporting ongoing maintenance needs. This continued relationship reflects a full-circle commitment to the longevity and performance of themed environments, even after opening day.
Members of our extended community have been fortunate to contribute to various aspects of the park’s development since its early stages in 2022. Their involvement—spanning from initial design and feasibility testing to hardscape delivery and maintenance consulting—was shaped across several roles and organizations, all working toward the common goal of storytelling through space.
From the green tiles in the Ministry of Magic to the textured concrete in Super Nintendo World, from managing crews to overseeing delivery documentation, each moment of contribution reflects the legacy of themed construction as a deeply collaborative field.
A Visual Celebration
Below, we invite you to explore a collection of photos we were fortunate to capture during recent visits to Epic Universe. These images highlight the vibrant materiality, striking colorwork, and environmental storytelling that make the park a landmark of immersive design.
The Future is Now
Epic Universe stands as a reminder that great environments are not just built—they are imagined, documented, tested, revised, painted, sculpted, and walked-through countless times before guests ever set foot inside. It's a living testimony to the thousands of decisions that shape an experience.
To those who make themed construction possible, your work may not always come with headlines, but it lives in every corner, every crack, and every color.
