Diamond Exchange District

The Diamond Exchange District (Hebrew: מתחם הבורסה, Mitham HaBursa, lit. "The Exchange District") is a diamond district and commercial area in the Tel Aviv District city of Ramat Gan, Israel. Bordering the Ayalon Highway, the freeway dividing Ramat Gan and Tel Aviv, the district is the hub of Israel's diamond industry as well as a major commercial center. As of 2019, the district contains 1.1 million square meters of commercial and living space, and is responsible for 60% of Ramat Gan's municipal revenue.[1]

View of the Diamond Exchange District from the Azrieli towers.
The Diamond Exchange District in 2005

The Israel Diamond Exchange, the centerpiece of the district, contains four buildings connected by bridges; the Maccabi Tower, Shimshon Tower, Noam Tower, and Diamond Tower. Diamond Tower contains the world's largest diamond trading floor and is the head-building of the exchange. Also in the district are a number of other buildings of importance. Moshe Aviv Tower is Israel's second tallest building at 235 meters. Sheraton City Tower is a hotel in the district, whilst other notable buildings are the Ayalon Tower and Gibor Sport House. Tel Aviv's Central railway station is connected to the district by a pedestrian bridge.

The Harry Oppenheimer Diamond Museum displays models of world-famous diamonds, including the Kōh-i Nūr Diamond currently set in the crown of the Queen of The United Kingdom, the diamond given to Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton on her 40th birthday, and items such as an hourglass with "sand" made of diamonds, a diamond-set tennis ball and Biblically inspired brooches incorporating diamonds.[2]

Buildings

Moshe Aviv Tower
Main article: Moshe Aviv Tower

The Moshe Aviv Tower, also known as City Gate, was the tallest building in Israel.

Leonardo City Tower
Main article: Leonardo City Tower Hotel

Leonardo City Tower is the tallest hotel in Israel. It was the tallest building in Ramat Gan from its construction in 2000, until 2001, when it was surpassed by the Moshe Aviv Tower.

Diamond Tower
Main article: Diamond Tower

The Diamond Tower containing the world's largest diamond trading hall, accommodating up to 1,000 people. At 115 meters over 32 floors, the tower was the tallest building in Ramat Gan from 1989 until 2000, when it was surpassed by the Sheraton City Tower.

Ayalon Tower
Main article: Ayalon Tower

The Ayalon Tower is used for office purposes as of the May 10, 2009. It is 132 meters high, excluding its decorative spire, making it the third tallest building in Ramat Gan. It has 35 floors and covers 4,000 square meters.[3]

Gibor Sport House
Main article: Gibor Sport House

The Gibor Sport House is 114 meters in height, has 29 floors and was completed in April 2000. The building was designed by AMAV Architects, the architects of the Moshe Aviv Tower. As such, it has many similarities in terms of its design, with many likening it to a scaled down version due to its similar shape and materials. The tower's car park connects to the parking areas of both its neighbours; Sheraton City Tower to the south and the Ayalon Tower to the north.

BDB Tower
BDB Tower

The BDB Tower was home to financial company, Banc De Binary until 2017.[4] The building was designed by Gwircman E. Architects Ltd. and completed in 1988. It is situated on 38 Tuval Street, Ramat Gan. Its unusual modernism architectural design and use of concrete materials makes it one of the more noticeable buildings in the Exchange District. It has 10 floors and covers 3,000 square meters.[5][6]

Administration

Since 2015, the district has been administered by the Diamond Exchange District Administration. As of 2019, its annual budget was ILS 5 million. The administration is responsible for the physical upkeep of the public space, as well as marketing and general development.[1]

Future

As of 2019, the city of Ramat Gan is promoting a plan, drafted by architect David Galor, to increase the Diamond Exchange District's occupied space from 1.1 million square meters to 3.7 million. The plan includes a 120-floor tower, an addition of 1,000 apartments and a general urban renewal scheme for the district.[1]

See also

References
  1. Nardi, Guy (November 19, 2019). "בדרך למנהטן: תוכנית הענק שמבקשת לשלש את מתחם הבורסה ברמת גן" [On the Road to Manhattan: The Gigantic Program to Triple the Diamond Exchange District in Ramat Gan] (in Hebrew). Globes. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  2. "Diamond Museum opened in the Diamond Exchange area in Ramat Gan". Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  3. "Ayalon Tower, Ramat Gan - 131227". www.emporis.com.
  4. Cohen, Tova (January 11, 2017). "Binary options firm Banc De Binary says winding down operations". Reuters. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  5. http://www.govmap.gov.il/
  6. http://www.ramat-gan.muni.il/

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