The History of The Business Design Centre (BDC)
Today, the Business Design Centre (BDC) is one of the most popular business venues in London! With its modern feel, you might be mistaken for thinking the structure is a new-build, however, the venue has a long and rich history, dating back to its construction in 1862.
The building is situated in the heart of Islington, between Upper Street and Liverpool Road. It was originally an agricultural hall, but found its purpose in business events following the Second World War!
In this blog, we will delve into the history of the hall, including its original purpose, architectural design, transformation during WW2, sustainability developments, famous shows, and ownership.
Early History | Royal Agricultural Hall
Though the Business Design Centre is now renowned for its exhibitions and events, it was not originally built for this purpose. The venue was designed by English architect Frederick Peck, for the Royal Smithfield Club, who founded the hall for annual exhibitions of livestock and agricultural products.
The ever-growing Smithfield Show took place at the venue from 1862 until 1938, when the show became so large, it had to be moved to Olympia, London. Upon its launch the show was a great success, attracting 134,669 visitors, including the Prince of Wales and King George V!
The show soon gained its “Royal” prefix, following the frequent Royal attendance at the venue and was coined the “Royal Agricultural Hall” (The Aggie). During this time, the venue hosted some of the UK’s largest and most interesting events, including, the Royal Tournament, The World’s Fair, and the Crufts Dog Show.
Business Design Centre in World War II
During the Second World War, the government took possession of the Royal Agricultural Hall, and thus, its time as an agricultural hall was paused. The requisition rehomed the Inland and Foreign Parcels Department following its demolition at Mount Pleasant during an air raid. The parcels department remained at the venue until after the war.
The Transformation of the BDC | Sam Morris
In the 1980’s, the Morris family acquired the building transforming The Royal Agricultural Hall into the Business Design Centre. Sam Morris, the founder of the Business Design Centre group saw the potential in the site and rescued it from demolition. He restored the building to its former greatness and reopened it as the Business Design Centre in 1986! Sam Morris is now remembered by a bust on the upper level of the BDC alongside a charitable trust run by his sons. In 2024, following 40 years of family ownership, the building was acquired by ExCeL London, and now forms a part of the wider ADNEC.
The Architecture of the Business Design Centre
The Business Design Centre is a grade II listed Victorian building and was one of the largest exhibition halls in the world upon its opening. The structure of the BDC utilised 1,000 tons of cast iron and featured an impressive 130ft glass roof spanning the hall!
It could be said that the BDC is a UK trendsetter among buildings of a similar kind. The glass ceiling, which tactically lets in light to counteract exhibition fatigue, is seen across the UK in famous exhibition halls like Olympia, London (1886) and Manchester Exhibition and Event Centre (1986).
Famous Events Held at the Business Design Centre
- Smithfield Show
- Royal Tournament
- Crufts Dog Show
- HIX London
- BDC Competitions Dinner
- The BAFTA’s
- The CBI Conference
- The London Art Fair
- The Workspace Design Show
Sustainability Progress
Like many exhibition halls in the UK, the BDC has been on a great sustainability journey. For over fourteen years, the venue has been a certified carbon-neutral venue. This is impressive given the venue hosts around 250 events and 900,000 visitors annually! Additionally, the BDC is now a certified B-Corp and aims to hit Net-Zero by 2030!
Exhibitors are also making sustainability improvements at the venue, by switching to reusable, modular exhibition stands from leading exhibition stand design contractors like Quadrant2Design
Summary
The Business Design Centre has made a fantastic impact on the UK events landscape so far! Organisers and exhibitors are now looking forward to seeing what the venue brings under its new ownership.
The journey from Crufts Dog Show and the Smithfield Show to The London Textile Fair and the Sustainable Foods London show highlights the ongoing significance of this esteemed venue in the UK events landscape.
