The NYSE Group Inc. today announced its plans for trading floor consolidation.

The firm says that technology-driven productivity gains in recent years will enable the New York Stock Exchange LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Group Inc., to consolidate trading operations from five rooms to four over the next 18 months. The trading floor consolidation plan calls for Bear Wagner Specialists LLC and approximately 33 floor brokerage firms to relocate from the leased 30 Broad facility to the NYSE’s other trading rooms.

“Like the exchange itself, our specialist firms and floor brokers continue to be more productive,” said Nelson Chai, CFO and executive president, NYSE Group. “They are able to handle increasing order volume with greater speed and efficiency, thanks largely to improvements in technology and automation.

“Over the next 18 months, we will consolidate the five trading rooms to four in a phased-in approach that will not be disruptive to the floor firms or customers. We expect that this effort will produce cost savings and further increase efficiencies for both the floor firms and the exchange,” Chai added.

The 30 Broad trading facility was opened in Nov. 2000. Currently, 503 stocks trade in its 10,000 sq. ft. space. The NYSE’s four remaining trading rooms account for more than 36,000 sq. ft.