The proposal for the Grand Canopy of Union Station was an investigation on the advantages of using computational methods to propose a new responsive and performative roof for Toronto’s Union Station. The concept for the roof was aimed at re-creating the random experiential lighting effects of being underneath a cloud.

The roof consists of panels with different opacity. The density of the panels in combination with the gradient of opacities would create the desired lighting effect. The canopy was generated and controlled using a Grasshopper Script. A series of vertical towers would serve as the main structure and circulation nodes to the project. Bridges connecting these towers would facilitate circulation of visitors over the tracks. The most important and integral part of the design was to derive the structure and the panels through the same geometrical form. This would provide a consistent geometric language and not interfere with the gradient of shadows created.