The original Toronto Stock Exchange building opened in 1937 and remained an active trading centre until the early 1980s.   It is located at 234 Bay Street within the Toronto Dominion Centre.

The facade of the building is a mix of different architectural styles and was originally designed by the architectural firm of George and Moorehouse.  Canadian artist Charles Comfort designed frieze located on the facade of the building just above the impressive front doors.   Both the frieze and the doors show representations of various industries.  In 1978, the original TSE building was designated as a heritage property.

 

Today, the building houses the Design Exchange, which is a non for profit museum dedicated to the pursuit of design excellence in Canada.  The museum is funded by a myriad of donors and also receives a grant from the City of Toronto.

 

The old trading floor is located on the second floor of the building.  It is a large Art Deco room which interestingly is one open space with no support columns.  This design allowed more people to be on the trading floor back when it was in use.  Large decorative panels adorn both ends of the room, and the design lines on both the walls and ceiling of the room mirror those of the facade of the building.  The panels were also the creation of Charles Comfort.

 

The museum has a large permanent collection showcasing Canadian industrial design objects from 1945 to the present.  The venue can also be rented out for private functions with the proceeds going to support various exhibitions, programs and the upkeep and restoration of the building itself.