Exchange Pavilion / Pabellon Intercambio

The Exchange Pavilion, fabricated in Tijuana, installed in San Diego as a temporary structure, and later reassembled permanently in Tijuana, is a landmark of creativity, ingenuity, and cross-border collaboration. Conceived as the flagship of World Design Capital 2024, the Pavilion was designed by Heleo Architecture + Design and internationally renowned artist Daniel Ruanova Studio as both a place for gathering and sculptural icon to symbolize the dynamic cultural and economic connection between the border cities of San Diego and Tijuana.

First erected in San Diego’s Balboa Park from August to November 2024, the Pavilion activated the Plaza de Panama, inviting visitors to enter from all sides and experience its cathedral-like atmosphere. By day, translucent orange cladding filtered sunlight into a warm glow; by night, rhythmic LED lighting animated the space, transforming it into a civic beacon.

Inspired by the idea of eliminating the ‘no man’s land’ between the two border walls in a simple gesture, the Pavilion bends the two walls together into a striking ‘X’ form, creating a welcoming space beneath for gathering, connecting, and exchanging ideas. During its San Diego debut, it hosted over 70 community events, lectures, pop-up exhibits, and installations, along with countless informal gatherings, fostering cultural dialogue on a wide scale. The juxtaposition of the Exchange Pavilion’s contemporary design with the Spanish Baroque and Spanish Colonial Architecture that dominates Balboa Park was stunning, and instigated conversation and introspection about past, present and future design and architecture in our region.

Innovative in both design and engineering, the Pavilion comprises eight prefabricated steel modules fabricated in Tijuana. All welding was completed in the factory, while site assembly relied solely on bolted connections, allowing the structure to be dismantled, moved, and reinstalled infinitely without loss of integrity. Spanning 85 feet without mid-span supports, it rests only on its four corners, with each module supporting the others like a traditional Roman vaulted ceiling.

Sustainable elements include seating made from landfill-bound plastic blocks and energy-efficient lighting. The Exchange Pavilion was created in response to a request for a temporary structure, however, a design that prioritized sustainability, resiliency and longevity allowed it to now be permanently installed in Parque Esperanto, Tijuana’s third-largest urban park, and continues to embody civic pride and the collaborative spirit of the San Diego–Tijuana region, ensuring its lasting cultural and environmental impact.