The New York Stock Exchange, one of the city's most secure buildings, was previously only offered to companies listed on the exchange. However, this year the global financial center opened up the trading floor and seventh-floor dining areas to outside parties for event rentals. Built in 1903 and a designated landmark, the neoclassical structure houses a number of striking architectural details, many of which are showcased in the sections available for business functions.
At the nerve center of the stock exchange is the trading floor, marked by soaring 72-foot ceilings, broker booths, and computer screens. Best suited for receptions—the booths can't be moved—the room has a capacity of 500 within more than 20,000 square feet of space. However, as it is used by brokers during the day, rental of this area is restricted to after business hours; trading typically closes at 4 p.m.
Not as limited in terms of availability, the main dining room, lounge, and card room are situated on the seventh floor and sport some original decorative elements, including tobacco leaf details to represent one of the first traded commodities and vaulted ceilings. The dining room, originally a members-only watering hole known as the Stock Exchange Luncheon Club, is the largest of the three and can be used for a number of functions. Equipped with audiovisual technology and projection screens for presentations and meetings, it seats 192 in a classroom setup, 170 theater-style, or 240 for dinner.
An in-house catering team and technicians are available; and events renting the facility may also hang banners or flags from the building's facade.
