Time warp back to 1937. The Toronto Stock Exchange bustles with activity. Now, standing before the Design Exchange, it is hard to imagine brokers shouting and ticker tapes spewing. This building once housed the most up-to-date trading floor in the world.
Today, we know this building as the Design Exchange. It stands as a testament to Toronto’s evolving relationship with design and culture. The Design Exchange began its journey in 1987. A group of citizens advocated for a design center. Their efforts transformed into the Design Exchange organization.
For over two decades, the Design Exchange was the epicenter of Toronto’s design industry culture. But even before that it was the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Toronto Stock Exchange moved to its current headquarters in 1983. The building at 234 Bay Street became a heritage property in 1978.
Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects incorporated the historic Trading Floor and TSE structure into the Toronto-Dominion Centre complex in 1994. The Design Exchange promotes design’s value. It fosters economic growth and cultural vitality. The Design Exchange holds a special place in many hearts.
Inside, the historic Trading Hall was restored. It became a multi-purpose space. Imagine 450 people seated in a retractable auditorium. It can also be used for exhibits and trade shows. Even fashion shows and banquets take place here.
Notice the stainless steel staircase. Its lacquered birch handrail swirls upward. It invites visitors from the first floor to the second. The staircase leads to the Charles Comfort murals.
In 2019, the Design Exchange ceased operating as a design museum. But don’t worry, it was renovated and reopened to the public in April 2023. The Design Exchange has become Canada’s first fully immersive event venue. The transformation preserves the building’s architectural heritage. It combines it with a modern, immersive environment.
The Design Exchange now features a projection mapping system. The projections reach 45 feet tall by 230 feet wide. This technology enhances the events held here. The renovated Design Exchange now provides over 3700 square metres for events.
The Design Exchange has become the home of Elevate. It is a Canadian not-for-profit that operates an annual tech festival. The Design Exchange embraces the future while honoring its past. It shows how design shapes our world. It’s a place where history and innovation meet.