A history of the Toronto Stock Exchange
Opening on Tuesday, March 20th, 1937 The Toronto Stock Exchange was a masterful expression of its time. The heroic murals and frieze gave hope to the people weary of the Depression and looking ahead to a more dynamic and productive economy - launching millionaires in its grand footsteps.
The Design Exchange facility is one of Canada's foremost landmarks. Apart from its visual merits, the building was a marvel of contemporary communications and trading technology. Writers of the day hailed its sophisticated systems, one noting it "Machinery [is] so modern, so up-to-date, that a good deal of it had to be invented before it could be built."
The art moderne style was designed by architects George and Moorehouse, joined by Samuel Maw, endearingly known for his style as 'Maws Modernism'. Canadian artist Charles Comfort designed the 74-foot long exterior with carved frieze and interior murals. These murals illustrated stories of the industries that were driving the Canadian economy and the Toronto Stock Exchange.

The Design Exchange
In 1983, the TSE moved to First Canadian Place, due mostly in part to space requirements, leaving the building empty. In 1985 Olympia and York (O&Y) proposed a not for profit design centre in the former TSE. The building was sold to Cadillac Fairview and The Toronto Dominion Bank in 1986. The sale was conditional on the Design Centre concept being retained, and the new owners were also obliged to preserve the buildings facade and trading floor.
In January 1988 architects Kuwabara, Payne, McKenna, Blumberg (KPMB) were hired to implement the renovations.

Where are we today?
The Design Exchange [DX] officially opened by Prime Minister Jean Chretien on September 21st, 1994. The Design Exchange is a non-profit educational organization committed to promoting Canadian design and innovation and is North America's premier design museum, education and resource centre.
The DX is home to a permanent collection of Canadian Designed products, including iconic pieces at risk of disappearing because they do not conform to the mandates of other museums. A large part of the collection is an extensive encyclopedia of post-war design in Canada.

How your money helps......
Through implementing our Heritage Facility fee to the rental of trading floor the Design Exchange can preserve the building's grandeur through continual restorations and attention to historic details, ultimately acting as a time capsule to the former Toronto Stock Exchange.
DESIGN EXCHANGE HERITAGE DONATION