The Buffalo Livestock Exchange building was the second largest exchange in the country. Located on the east side of Buffalo, the exchange was comprised of the three-story Bethune & Bethune building and 75 acres of land to hold the yards for the livestock. Construction for the building began in late July 1890; the building opened in 1892 at the corner of William and Depot Streets, directly across from the New York Stock Yards.

The $60,000 building measured 120 feet by 90 feet. The Second Renaissance Revival structure was primarily brick. Arched and double-hung windows were lined with stone sills, and the cornice and onion-shaped cupola were clad in copper. The oak doors at the main entrance vestibule on Williams Street had an ornamental iron fence and grills. The building was used for managerial and public use. The basement contained a restaurant, kitchen, pantries, and barbershop. The first and second floors housed the Stock Exchange offices, and the third floor held a 47 by 87 foot public hall and ticket offices. The building's design—housing a relatively utilitarian function—continued to be celebrated into the 20th century.