Anyone who last visited the Main Trading Hall in 2006 would hardly recognize it now. In 2007 it was fully renovated in two phases. Since completion of the second phase in January 2008, it offers both the lead brokers, the broadcasting stations who work there, and visitors a high-tech experience. After the first phase of reconstruction work, trading was resumed on 26 February 2007 in the renovated and modernized Main Trading Hall. With a symbolic ring of the bell, the Mayor of Frankfurt, Petra Roth, the Hessian Minister for Economic Affairs, Traffic and State Development Alois Rhiel, and the Chief Executive of Deutsche Börse, Reto Francioni reopened the hall. Multiple awards for „Grosser Handelssaal“ The redesigned „Grosser Handelssaal“ of the Deutsche Börse received four design awards: iF design communication award 2008
red dot award 2008
contractworld award 2009
best architects 2009 The redesign was planned by the Stuttgart architecture firm "Atelier Brückner". Since the remodeling, the lead brokers work in five round and two half-round cubicles. Here they determine the prices based on their order books and accept orders placed with them from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The new cubicles offer ergonomic working conditions. The modernized floor also boasts a new platform for IPOs. In the center under the DAX® board, a special cubicle was built, giving new issuers an attractive position in the spotlight of the media. The trading floor was completely replaced. It now has a wooden floor of smoked oak – a very robust and hard type of wood, best suited for demanding conditions. In addition, the ceiling lights were replaced. Warm and cold lights now simulate a light quality in the hall similar to daylight in the outdoors. A few familiar elements of the stock exchange hall were, however, retained, such as the magnetically controlled DAX board and the price display system. Their appearance and soft clicking noise help make the lead brokers and visitors to the trading floor feel at home in the new environment. Modernization of Main Trading Hall phase 2 During the second phase of modernization, the wall panelling was replaced, TV broadcasting ambience and conditions were improved and the Visitors Gallery was completely redesigned. The brown wood wall panelling of the Hall was refurnished and accentuated by a stylized world map created by fluorescent lights. The map surrounds the Hall and shows the most important trading venues worldwide. Moving LED displays show the respective benchmark indices as well as current announcements from these venues. Media coverage also reflects the global span of the financial markets. Up to seven television stations retain their traditional position on the gallery in the modernized environment. They air more than 50 live and direct reports daily about events at Germany’s number one financial location.To enable large-scale, long- and bird’s eye view shots of the trading floor, the stations’ door openings were enlarged. Light, modern, well-equipped: New Visitors Gallery The Visitors Gallery was completely remodeled. New information points and multimedia panels explain stock exchange proceedings, what happens in the Trading Hall and what kind of products are traded. Two internet stations allow visitors access to www.boerse-frankfurt.com – Deutsche Börse’s website for investors. A high-tech chart embedded in the floor of the Visitors Gallery shows the movement of individual share prices from the four most important indices in Germany. | 
