About the World Design Capital and Exchange Pavilion:

In 2024, the World Design Organization (WDO) designated the cities of San Diego and Tijuana as the ‘World Design Capital’ for 2024. The World Design Organization is a globally recognized non-profit and the leading international body in design and design thinking. WDO has awarded this special honor and recognition every two years to cities around the globe since the 1950s. In the past, the award has gone to cities to uplift and highlight how design is utilized in planning and placemaking. The 2024 WDC designation is the first time the award has been given to a cross border region. San Diego is also the first city in the United States to receive this award. Every World Design Capital has the opportunity to create a structure to be utilized during the designation year as an activated space and representation of design in the region. The Exchange Pavilion on display in Plaza de Panama is the San Diego Tijuana region’s gathering place. Designed by Heleo Architecture in collaboration with Daniel Ruanova Studio, the Pavilion represents our cross border region. The designers have reimagined the prohibited space between our two border fences by bending and joining the two rigid structures at the top and opening up the sides. This creates a space beneath them that is no longer prohibited and instead invites gathering, dialogue, and a sharing of our connected place. The Exchange Pavilion will remain in Balboa Park’s Plaza de Panama from August - November, 2024. During this time, San Diego visitors and community alike can enjoy the diverse and innovative programs that will occur under its roof.

For more information and a Pavilion event calendar, please visit www.wdc2024.org.