Historically, in many cultures around the world, large communal feasts were enactments of narrative through ritual dining experiences that passed cultural values from one generation to another. These feasts were ritual acts that united communities by requiring everyone to sacrifice commodities and work towards a common goal. In American culture today however, many of the benefits of rituals that once surrounded food and dining have been adapted and broken down into other sectors of society. Our food culture is undefined due to this lack of structure and meaning around dining. Because of there is no societal structure, we are at risk not only physically and financially, but also culturally. The lack of value placed on rituals and food challenges the practice of maintaining personal connections to the family and community through food. With a culture that does not emphasize the significance of shared meals that are connected to certain values, our society has lost these moments of potential connection and understanding. This thesis explores the relationship between place and components of ritual that can be utilized to create an environment that evokes a feeling of belonging and community. Four aspects in creating a ritual--phenomena, narrative, interaction, and reflection--are examined independently through a series of communal dining events to further understand the nuances of each component. Implemented in a variety of spaces and contexts, these meal events provide opportunity for research and experimentation with how the design of the space affects the dining atmosphere. Diners experience these effects during the meal, while participating in ceremonial activities that encourage interpersonal connections. Drawing from these investigations, the spatial qualities are categorized to create a framework for future designs. A new building typology--a place for meals--is needed in order to understand the effects of these qualities over a period of time, not just in one instance. The design of a place for meals in Cincinnati embodies the learnings from the dining events and explores how space can evoke a change in consciousness in a permanent structure.