A landmark transformation is underway in Cape Town’s Foreshore. Inospace, now one of South Africa’s largest private property operators, has officially unveiled “The Exchange” as the name of its newest data and logistics hub, following an overwhelming public response to its “Claim the Name” competition. The campaign drew thousands of submissions, reflecting Capetonians’ enthusiasm for shaping the identity of one of Cape Town’s most innovative urban transformations.
The winning name, submitted by Cape Town resident Lwando Ngubentombi, was chosen from thousands of entries, cementing his place in the building’s past and future. The Exchange pays tribute to its origins as a telephone exchange while symbolising its new purpose as a hub for commerce, connectivity, and innovation.
As the competition winner, Ngubentombi will receive free storage space at The Exchange, a lifetime membership to Inospace’s national network of serviced logistics parks, and recognition within the building for his winning entry – ensuring that community involvement is embedded in its history.
A historic building reimagined for the digital economy. The Exchange is housed in the historic Old Post Office and Telephone Exchange at 15 Lower Long Street – a brutalist icon built in the early 1970s that originally served as a telecommunications hub before being repurposed as a Telkom data centre in the 2000s. Now, Inospace is bringing it into the future as a cutting-edge logistics and colocation data hub, merging its rich heritage with high-performance infrastructure.
“The perception of this building has shifted dramatically over the years – from an essential part of Cape Town’s communication network to an outdated, windowless structure,” says Rael Levitt, CEO of Inospace. “Many locals viewed it as an architectural relic, while others saw potential. We saw an opportunity. Instead of demolishing it, we are reimagining it for the digital age, creating a vibrant space for logistics, data, and business innovation.”
The Exchange will now house:
•State-of-the-art colocation data centre facilities to support the growing demand forcloud storage and IT infrastructure.
•Urban storage and last-mile logistics solutions designed for e-commerce and SMEdistribution.
•Flexible workspaces and co-working hubs tailored for entrepreneurs, logistics firms, anddigital businesses.
•Retail spaces to complement the hub’s mixed-use environment and support businessactivity on-site.
Inospace to relocate HQ to The Exchange
More than just a redevelopment, The Exchange is becoming Inospace’s new home. In a move that underscores its commitment to the project, Inospace will relocate its headquarters from Wale Street to The Exchange, ensuring that its leadership and operations are fully immersed in the development’s success.
