the source – union station
Visual Elements partnered with The Source to bring a new concept flagship to life inside Toronto’s Union Station, one of the city’s busiest commuter hubs. Designed with a significantly smaller footprint than the brand’s traditional format, the store was tailored to support a more focused product offering for customers on the go. At just 790 square feet of sales floor, the project challenged conventional expectations of electronics and telecommunications retail by delivering a premium, highly functional environment in a compact footprint.
This project required a high level of technical coordination and precision to achieve a clean, seamless result within a tightly constrained environment.
The mall prohibited any visible power or data feeds, a 15 foot digital signage wall required a cleanly integrated custom surround, and the underground location within Canada’s busiest rail hub placed tight restrictions on site access and permitted work hours. The challenge was not only to solve for these constraints, but to do so in a way that preserved the integrity of the client’s design vision and delivered a seamless customer experience.
Key challenges included:
- Compact footprint:
The store had to deliver a premium customer experience within just 790 square feet - No visible power or data feeds:
All wiring had to be concealed to meet mall requirements and maintain a clean presentation - 15 foot digital signage integration:
The large LED wall required a custom surround that felt seamless within the overall design - Restricted site access and working hours:
The underground Union Station location created tight logistical limitations for delivery and installation - Balancing design intent with technical execution:
The client’s concept needed to be carefully refined and engineered so it could be built without compromising the look and feel
our solution
Visual Elements refined the design and engineered each custom element to perform cleanly within the realities of the site. Front wireless tables were built with hidden wire chases to accommodate floor fed power and data while integrating security and digital signage requirements. Radius profiles were executed in thermoformed solid surface with integrated profile lighting, and the custom back wall feature was closely coordinated with the general contractor and digital signage partner around the 15 foot LED wall. We also integrated remote digital media player hardware into the headphone listening stands, helping unify function, technology, and presentation throughout the space.
design elements
15 foot digital signage integration
A large LED wall required a custom surround that felt seamless within the overall design.
hero fixture
The wireless tables at the front of the store serve as the standout feature, combining presentation, security, lighting, digital integration, and clean detailing in one highly resolved fixture.
materials and finishes
Thermoformed solid surface, custom metal, solid wood, veneer, and acrylic were combined to create a premium material palette suited to the new concept.
unified function + technology
Integrated remote digital media player hardware into the headphone listening stands, helping unify function, technology, and presentation throughout the space.
customer experience
“Working with Visual Elements was a highly collaborative and positive experience. They understood our vision, helped refine it for the realities of the space, and guided the execution with professionalism and care. Their ability to navigate technical challenges while keeping the design intact was a huge asset to the project.”
the outcome
The finished store delivers a polished, premium retail experience that feels elevated well beyond its footprint. Key fixture moments, especially the front wireless tables, conceal power, data, security, and media player components while maintaining a clean and effortless presentation. Most importantly, the smaller format concept proved highly effective in market, reportedly generating more revenue than larger store locations.
conclusion
The Source Union Station demonstrates how the right refinement and execution can elevate a client-led concept into a seamless retail experience that performs well beyond its footprint.
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