architectural design and construction supervision and comprehensive project Construction Supervision

The Engineering Department we belong to is called the Engineering Department within the company, and is a team that mainly performs what is known as "Construction Supervision" at construction sites. This "Construction Supervision" job allows us to know better than anyone how a building is actually constructed and how it fits together. In today's world where construction work is increasingly divided and subdivided, I think it's fair to say that we have a better grasp of the entire building than anyone else. For me, the appeal of this job is that it's close to the site.

It's interesting to see how the individual preferences of each Construction Supervision are reflected in the process of turning blueprints into an actual building. Even if the final surface color and shape are the same, the fit and construction process behind the foundation will never be the same.

正直、学生の頃は、設計者が図面を施工者に渡したあとは、ほぼ「お任せ」で建物が「建つ」ものだと思っていました。でも、就職活動をする中で、設計図と実際に建つ建物の間をつなぐ「監理」という仕事があることを知って興味が湧きました。法的にも工事監理者は定めなければならない存在ですよね。施工者と違う立場で、工事中も建物の安全性などの性能確保に日々留意しながら、図面の意図を汲み取って品質を守る方法を考える……、そんな重要な役目を任されてみたいなと。でも、工務職能的な仕事の募集は、ゼネコンなどの「施工管理」がほとんど。設計事務所の「監理」もキャリア採用が多い中で、三菱地所設計は新卒の採用をしていたので応募しました。

Our company has continued to hire new graduates for construction work from the time of its predecessor, Mitsubishi Estate, to the present day. This is the only organization like this in Japan, and it is a testament to the important role that construction work has played within Mitsubishi Estate Group.

We also need people with on-site experience who can contribute immediately, so of the 40-odd people currently in the Construction Department, about half are mid-career hires. However, conversely, one of our company's distinctive features is that about half are new graduates. In our Construction Supervision work, we not only consider design, but also how the building will be used (in terms of functionality and safety). If you join us as a new graduate, you will be able to work with clients, designers, and contractors from a young age, and hone your manufacturing mindset as Construction Supervision.

When we start work on-site, we often form teams of several people, which combines the skills of members with a variety of backgrounds. When it comes to large-scale sites, we have a good balance of veterans, mid-career employees, young people, and newcomers. I believe that by being exposed to the work styles and values of many different people as a new employee, you will be able to grow into Construction Supervision with a broader perspective.

For a certain large-scale redevelopment project that our team was in charge of, I joined the project from the end of design development phase in early 2016. Demolition work began six months later, and construction of the new building began in January 2018. I was in charge of Construction Supervision for over four and a half years until completion in September 2020.

The design began several years ago, so it was a fairly long-term project. In the construction department, we receive consultations from designers about construction plans and methods during the planning and schematic design stages, and calculate approximate construction times. For example, when designing a building right up against the site boundary, we consider and advise on things like "Is the plan actually feasible to build?" and "How long will construction take?"

In many cases, we only become fully involved in a project when it's time to select a contractor. One of our first important tasks is to identify the construction assumptions and constraints based on design development drawings and other documents. In cases where there is an existing building, such as in this redevelopment project, we inspect the interior and identify any special requirements for ordering demolition work. We also sometimes order separate contractors to suit the client's needs, so we also create rules and other construction conditions.

Once the contractor submits the construction cost and construction proposal, we work with Cost Consulting Department to confirm the appropriateness of the cost and construction method. Since the contractor presents construction costs and schedules with an eye to the future, it is not easy to make a decision, but we cannot be too safe or take too many risks. We support our clients in entering into construction contracts by determining the appropriateness of the construction schedule, plan, and construction costs.

Once construction actually begins, we will consult and coordinate with the contractor and monitor the schedule and construction costs on a daily basis to ensure there are no fluctuations, so I feel that the more accurate our assessment is, the smoother the subsequent project management will be.

However, the construction industry is currently facing a series of waves, including rising material prices, work style reforms, and labor shortages. Even if we conduct thorough research based on our know-how, there are still some aspects that we cannot understand until we try them out. Until now, there was a tendency to believe that "we should stick to the construction period and construction costs that were initially decided until the very end," but clients are increasingly understanding these drastic changes, and I feel that the times are changing.

What we value most is our commitment to quality. Our roots lie in architectural design and construction supervision department of Mitsubishi Estate, so we have always been very conscious of achieving higher quality by taking a stance that is closer to the client. We not only understand the intent of the drawings and maintain quality, but also use our know-how and experience to add flavor by saying, "It would be better if you did it this way."

One of the things that contributes to this is the work of dealing with defects after completion, known as "after-sales." Even for things that were deemed the best course of action during construction, this post-completion follow-up can lead to realizations like, "If only we had done it this way a little more..." There is no absolute right answer in Construction Supervision, so we continue to utilize these realizations at the next site.

Similarly, the builders also have their own preferences based on their experience, so there are times when opinions clash over how to actually deliver the work. As they are all engineers, they have strong preferences, but they all share the same goal of "making something better" and "avoiding making something that will result in high repair costs later," so they share their wisdom.

At times like these, the know-how accumulated within the company is also helpful. I sometimes look through the vast archive of drawings to see if there are any past examples that I can use as reference, but the drawings don't explain the basis for the dimensions. I interpret things in my own way, check with my seniors, and sometimes discuss things internally as I move forward. The atmosphere at Construction Supervision office for the recent redevelopment project was great, and I still remember it. When we went out for drinks after work, we would exchange technical opinions, regardless of whether we were senior or junior.

With regard to office buildings, which account for the largest portion of our architectural design and construction supervision services, I believe our Construction Supervision record and expertise in this area give us an advantage over our competitors. Furthermore, Mitsubishi Estate Group 's tenant leasing projects often involve "simultaneous completion," meaning that the tenant areas open almost simultaneously with the building's completion. For example, the FUKAYA-HANAZONO Premium Outlets®, for which I was responsible, fully opened just three weeks after completion. I believe our management capabilities, which allow us to coordinate design and construction with over 100 commercial tenants and open stores simultaneously with the opening of the building, are a strength not found in our competitors. While we sometimes receive sudden and unreasonable design changes mid-construction, our tenants are "our clients' customers." We coordinate with contractors, designers, and clients to make every effort to realize our goals.

Once work begins on site, the most important thing is the process of deciding what to do. "If we don't decide this by a certain date, we won't be able to complete the project in time." It is us Construction Supervision who manage this on a daily basis from a neutral standpoint, and we often act as the leaders of the project.

Hotel projects, which have been increasing in number in recent years, often involve many people involved, such as clients and hotel operators who are different companies, or who have their own in-house interior designers, and there are many decision-making processes. Without extensive experience and know-how, it is impossible to compete. We have worked on everything from urban business hotels to foreign-owned five-star hotels making their first foray into Japan, as well as resort hotels, so we would like to make this one of our areas of expertise in Construction Supervision work.

You learn a lot by working at one site for several years right up to the handover, but if the facility's purpose, structure, and scale differ, the quality control points and product selection process will be completely different. For this reason, I think it's best to experience as many different facility uses as possible. Another attractive feature of joining the company as a new graduate is the opportunity to gain experience at many new construction sites as Construction Supervision.

I think that one of the distinctive educational policies of our company's Construction Supervision work is that we allow employees to gain experience Construction Supervision a variety of sites, large and small, at the same time. This allows employees to rapidly increase their knowledge.

Currently, my main job is the massive and challenging TOKYO TORCH Torch Tower (approximately 540,000 m2), but I am also in charge of smaller projects (approximately 2,000 m2) at the same time.

I am currently mainly in charge of a 90,000m2 site in Tokyo, as well as a 20,000m2 and 1,500m2 site in the Hokuriku region. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, my work environment has changed dramatically, with meetings and on-site quality checks now being done remotely and drawings now being shared on the cloud, allowing me to use my time more effectively.

It doesn't take 10 years to be entrusted with the role of Construction Supervision at a construction site. For small to medium-sized sites, one person will be able to handle the work. New employees are usually assigned to the Construction Supervision office of a large site, so I tell them to carefully observe how their superiors and seniors work. I also tell them that it's up to them to take on the role at the next site, encouraging them to aim to become a full-fledged supervisor within a few years.

When I first started working on site, I watched my superiors and did a lot of mental training, imagining what I would do in that situation. There are many things about Construction Supervision work that you can't learn on your own. There are many things that worry me, but there is an on-the-job training system, and all my seniors are good at explaining things on the job, so it's easy to ask for advice.

Needless to say, a building is not something that can be built by one person. I believe that the mission of the construction industry is to build partnerships with the builders, on-site craftsmen, people who make the parts, and people who transport them, and to create an environment where everyone involved can demonstrate their abilities. This cannot be learned at a desk. What is necessary, as is the case in all jobs, is communication skills. It is not enough to be "friendly," as in other words, but it is good to have different approaches, so it is important to cultivate the communication skills to become friends with the people in front of you.

Our company has a tradition of having a sense of responsibility and a mindset that never runs away from anything by saying, "This is not our job." As a company that responds to various questions and concerns that arise in every aspect of construction work, I think we have a very large capacity to handle them.

Over the years, I have come to understand better what my first boss told me: "Construction Supervision is a service industry." This mindset tends to fade in modern society, but it is one of the strengths that our company has cultivated over the years.

This also relates to the "after-sales" work I mentioned earlier. When problems arise after completion, the builder is often the first to deal with the issue, but many clients consult with us as Construction Supervision first. I think that proactive follow-up and advice on whether repair methods are appropriate are traditions that have been passed down since my time Mitsubishi Estate.

Moreover, in our case, clients often speak directly to Construction Supervision, rather than to the designers or sales department. I think this shows how our Construction Supervision are at the forefront on-site. We are proud to know every detail of the building, from the design to the details of the construction.

The best part of Construction Supervision work is the fun and excitement of being at the forefront of on-site manufacturing, but at the same time, there is also the tension and thrill of knowing that every single decision you make every day directly affects quality. Although Construction Supervision is neither a designer nor a builder, it is a role that allows you to confidently say that, in a sense, you were the most involved in the process of building a building. That is what I find rewarding about my work.