Union Station
Jan 7, 2021
One of the finest examples of Beaux Arts and Neo-Classical architecture in Canada, Toronto’s Union Station recently underwent a major revitalization. Lumenpulse luminaires were used to help preserve this important heritage building while also creating a highly memorable exterior lighting design.
Toronto’s Union Station is the second busiest transportation hub in the country. Opened in 1927, this landmark building was recently the subject of a multi-phase revitalization project. Architects, EVOQ, were responsible for the design and quality assurance of the interior and exterior restorations. CS Design worked closely with EVOQ, NORR, the City of Toronto and Parks Canada to create a lighting design that is perfectly synchronised with the Beaux Arts and Neo-Classical architecture of the station while remaining in contemplative dialogue with the more modern buildings in its surrounds.
CS Design collaborated with the architects to research the original historical shop drawings and photographs from 1918, allowing for newly fabricated replicas to be fitted with SSL fixtures such as the Lumenpulse Lumenfacade luminaires. A series of modified wall sconces equipped with adjustable Lumenfacades allowed CS Design to frame the original lower entrance way in the main portico. “The strong performance and scalability of the LED fixtures allowed us to replace the metal halide technology without compromising the heritage aesthetic,” said Alicia Davila, Senior Lighting Designer/PM, CS Design.
The upper cornice, entablature, and column capitals are lit using Lumencove luminaires. The low-profile of the luminaires allows them to blend with the architecture and remain unseen by passersby, giving the architecture an organically lit look that enhances the stonework and architectural elements. The parapet is lit using Lumenfacade luminaires.
The old carriageway, now known as “The Moat,” was a passageway that allowed the pick-up and drop-off of passengers during the first half-century of the station’s existence. Now a glassed-in pavilion and walkway, the area serves as a staging ground for Lumenfacade luminaires mounted along the top of The Moat to supply a wallwash to the rest of the building. The reflection of the illuminated façade gives off a jewelled aura and sets a dramatic and elegant stage, reflecting the watery elements of its nickname while simultaneously providing a new signature element to the heritage design.
Throughout the restoration of Toronto’s Union Station, great pains were taken to restore and reinvigorate a token jewel in Toronto’s architectural crown. CS Design created a lighting design that is elegant, stoic, and memorable, just like the architecture itself. Lumenpulse luminaires were the right tools for the job, but the end result is a symbiotic relation between light and stone, years past and years to come, ensuring that Union Station continues to have a voice throughout Toronto’s nights.
EQUIPMENT SPECIFIED
250 x Lumenfacade Horizontal (4′, 3000K, 10º x 60º)
74 x Lumenfacade Horizontal (3′, 3000K, 30º x 60º)
89 x Lumencove XT, (4′, 3000K)
6 x Lumencove XT (3′, 3000K)
10 x Lumenfacade Pendant HO (1′ 3000K, 10×60)
Project details
Project type: Urban, Infrastructure
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Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Client: City of Toronto
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Lighting Design: CS Design
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Architect: EVOQ Architecture
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Project Architect: NORR Limited
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Electrical Engineer: NORR Limited
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Photographer: Scott Norsworthy
