ROOTS – YORKDALE

The Roots store franchise is a Canadian retail icon. Their brand is recognized world wide. In 2017 their retail store division revamped their retail store image to create their new standard be used in all of their stores. The first of these was to be their new flagship store in the prestigious Yorkdale Shopping Plaza in Toronto, Canada.

As the architects of record, 3stones worked with the Roots design team to design the layout and execute the construction of the 5,160 square foot retail space with an additional storage mezzanine. Facing the east entrance plaza, the store extends into the entry plaza space allowing the interior of the store to borrow natural light from the clerestory lighting above. The result is a complex free standing store front framed in steel and showcasing an enormous glazed entry door system which when open is concealed behind their new signature split firewood wall.

The design and construction of the interior is akin to a large piece of furniture. Precision detailing combined with the careful juxtaposition and grouping of materials creates a series of different enticing shopping experiences including personalized customization of products. These have been carefully woven in and around the existing building mechanical and electrical services to maximize and utilize the clear ceiling height of the space. The design also required some carefully executed modifications to the existing building structure.

The resulting design yields a series of carefully crafted material palates which emphasize the connection to the Canadian wilderness and showcase their product lines in a surprising and engaging shopping experience.

Photography by: Sean O’Reilly and A-Frame Inc