Lives of Consequence
Toby Pugh '67
Executive, Project Standards and Specifications at Walt Disney Imagineering (Retired)
Toby Pugh ’67 was responsible for making Disney magic come to life for more than two decades, recently retiring as Executive for Project Standards and Specifications at Walt Disney Imagineering (WDI), the arm of the Walt Disney Company responsible for master planning, creative development, design, engineering and production.
His realistic approach to these big ideas took shape through his work on Hong Kong Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure; as lead architect on the 55-acre theme park at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Calif.; and as the Director of Facilities Standards and Specifications at WDI.
In 2015, Pugh was named an American Institute of Architects Fellow for his significant contributions to architecture and society and for his achieved standard of excellence in the profession.
During his years at WDI, Pugh transformed everyday building materials into the magic of Disney while also considering the practical realities of constructing structures that can withstand high volumes and that meet building, accessibility and safety codes.
“I look at it from a technical perspective—the buildings have to have plumbing, of course, and be up to code, but they still have to be authentic to the experience and in line with the story,” Pugh says. “We are constantly developing new ways to make a brick look more like the stereotypical image of a brick, make shingles look older than they are—anything that'll transport the visitor to the place we want them to be.”
Pugh believes that architecture is essentially about storytelling, regardless of the application.
“We work to make sure the storyline is accurate, consistent, and clearly stated. We make trips to the places being represented, if they exist, or create histories and vignettes of those places if they are imaginary,” explains Pugh. “We keep testing the possible results against the background of the story being told to make sure the final product will communicate that story well—all the time paying close attention to safety and accessibility requirements.”
Prior to working for WDI, Pugh was in private architectural practice in Albuquerque, N.M. and in Los Angeles, Calif. In addition to his own firm in Albuquerque, Pugh worked in the offices of FMBSM, Barker-Bol, interned in the offices of Cherry-See and Van H. Gilbert and worked with Architectural Research Consultants. In retirement, Pugh is the chief executive of his own consultancy, currently working on a senior living facility in New Mexico.
After graduating from Hobart College with a B.A. in psychology, Pugh went on to earn his Master of Architecture from the University of New Mexico in 1980.