The winners of Mitsubishi Jisho Design In-house Award 2024 have been announced!

[Best Work Award/Employee Choice Award]
Nikon Headquarters/Innovation Center

The headquarters functions and R&D department are consolidated, and a museum is also built. This project aims to create a place where not only employees, but also local residents, related companies, and fans of the company's products can "discover, interact, and experience." The three office spaces, each approximately 150m x 16m, are sandwiched between two communication frames that consolidate various spaces, including a core with a lift function and a refreshment space, to create interaction across floors. In addition, the office space is made ductless by using the inside of the horizontal eaves around the building as a duct route. A comfortable environment is created by controlling the air conditioning by zone, and by introducing daylight and lighting plans that use the smooth surface of the PC floor as a reflector. As a designer, he is involved in a wide range of topics, from architecture and Landscape Design to museums, showrooms, environmental video production, and dining operations, and is working to precisely realize a "place full of innovation."
The company was recognized for building relationships of trust with its clients, carefully implementing a "process for creating good architecture," and achieving a high level of integration of design, structure, and facilities.

[Excellent Work Award/President's Award]
Front Place Chiyoda Ichibancho

This project, with a medium-sized rental office building, responded to themes such as "the meaning of going to the office" and diversification of work styles and values that have come to be questioned in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The exterior, inspired by stacked stones, is composed of bay windows that can be adjusted in height from benches to counter desks. Rental office buildings generally require uniform space, but the different window treatments on each floor allow each tenant to use the space in a unique way, and by expressing this in the exterior, it increases the attachment to the office. In addition, the first floor is open to the local community with an open space facing the street, equipped with a cafe and benches, creating a connection between each tenant/worker and the town. In terms of facilities, the introduction of air-type radiant air conditioning that suppresses airflow and temperature unevenness, and lighting operation by DALI control and human motion sensors achieves a high level of both comfort and energy conservation ^*. This is a model case that shows what medium-sized rental office buildings should be like in the future.
The project was recognized for placing human activity at the heart of the design and pursuing a design that is open to the city, demonstrating a new perspective that goes beyond the framework of conventional rental office buildings.

* The first rental office building to receive WELL Core preliminary Platinum certification under the WELL V2 standard.

[Excellent Work Award]
Hokkaido Shimbun Building

The Hokkaido Shimbun newspaper head office building is located in the Sosei Higashi district, where Sapporo City is focusing on urban development, and stands along Odori, known as Sapporo's main street. The space and traffic lines that encourage communication among workers are called the "3C (Colorful / Connect / Communication) Zone" and are arranged to face Odori. In addition to vertical traffic lines such as stairs and elevators, functions that workers frequently visit, such as a multi-purpose workplace that contributes to work and relaxation, a terrace, and a kitchen, are concentrated here. This space also contributes to reducing the environmental impact of the office, as a buffer zone to the main office space behind it. facade, which displays the ever-changing activities of producing and disseminating information, like a newspaper page, and a tower sprayed with locally produced waste brick powder that has a chimney and vertical traffic lines, have been installed to create a mass media base that is loved by the local community.
The "3C Zone," which brings together activities unique to a newspaper company, was evaluated for its dual function of expressing activity in the city and forming a buffer zone with the external environment, as well as proposing a new building facade for cold regions.

[Excellent Work Award]
THE ROYAL PARK HOTEL Ginza 6-chome (Hulic Ginza 6-chome Showadori Building)

This is a new construction project for a 15-story, 273-room hotel along a major road in Ginza. From the perspective of ease of sales and uniformity and efficiency of service and operations, high uniformity in guest room design was required, and the uniform exterior was a characteristic of lodging-focused hotels. This project, which was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, was a "questioning" of conventional wisdom, and attempted an approach not only from the perspective of operational efficiency but also from the perspective of the guest, working to propose new value for the new era. In order to maximize the opening area to attenuate road noise, the opening area of the windows was made larger on the upper floors, creating a change in the space of each guest room and expressing this in the exterior. It aims to diversify the accommodation experience and respond to the local context. This project will make a difference in the way this building type is perceived.
The project was recognized for focusing on windows not only as an element of the interior and exterior of a building, but also as an element that contributes to human behavior and the comfort of the internal environment, and for creating a new townscape through the pursuit of their design and form.

[Special Award]
Osaka Dojimahama Tower

The Osaka Mitsubishi Building (completed in 1969), an office building that had long been a symbol of the region, was designed as a large-scale complex to promote exchange between business, tourism and local areas, and between government and the private sector, taking advantage of its symbolic location at the intersection of Midosuji, the center of business and transportation, and Dojima River, the center of culture and administration. The lower floors are equipped with high-performance offices, the upper floors with international specifications, and the middle floors are equipped with a tourist facility and observation terrace that can be used as an integrated unit to promote the city's public relations and corporate events. By combining the various functions that extend to the region, the aim was to make the entire building "a theater-like place where you can experience the charm of Osaka from the front row." The adjacent Dojima Park and tourist wharf were also integrated, enhancing the symbolism of "Osaka, the Water City," and contributing to strengthening the area's disaster prevention capabilities through water infrastructure.
We were recognized for our ability to utilize our comprehensive capabilities to interpret the complexities of the special zone, combine multiple uses, and achieve a high level of energy planning that takes advantage of its characteristics and creates a rich sense of space.

[Related news release]

[Best Picture]
Douyin Group Chengdu （ByteDance Chengdu）

Tianfu New District in Chengdu, China, is home to a cluster of IT companies. We planned an office park that will be the last piece of the city along Tianfu Boulevard, the city axis. We aimed to open up offices, which tend to be closed off, to the local community, and to become a lively center that will lead the future of the area in harmony with the surrounding environment. The two new buildings, which are planned to be parallel to the existing low-rise buildings, have stepped heights to form a skyline along the city axis. The sky lobby on the third floor will connect the old and new buildings with a bridge, and will be a base for interaction with direct access to the hall and visitor center. On the standard floor, a space for meetings and communication will be set up between the cores on both ends of the floor, creating a space that allows for a variety of activities such as relaxation, discussion, and exercise, while providing a good balance between interaction and concentration. It is expected to become a place where the new generation can thrive.
In addition to winning the competition over European and American competitors, the company was recognized for creating a comfortable office environment that effectively utilizes relaxation spaces, including a sunken garden and social space.

[Best Picture]
SHIBUYA AXSH

This redevelopment project was planned for a site along Aoyama-dori, which connects Shibuya Station with the Aoyama area, where cultural and educational centers are concentrated. The project aims to connect the station, the town, and the area by creating a pedestrian network. The site has the potential to attract a diverse range of people, including office workers, students, and creators, but it is surrounded by major roads and has lost its accessibility to the surrounding area. Therefore, we developed the "urban core" (a vertical flow line that eliminates the valley topography of the area), which is the basic concept of the redevelopment of Shibuya Station, and installed an atrium in the center of the building with stairs, escalators, elevators, and places to sit down. We installed a bridge connecting the entrance to the surrounding decks and pedestrian bridges to draw in people, and created a flow line that expands in six directions while eliminating the difference in elevation, creating a network that seamlessly connects the area.
We were recognized for utilizing our comprehensive capabilities to interpret the complex conditions of the special zone and for creating a mechanism to attract people passing through the area while harmonizing with the surrounding environment.

[Best Picture]
Premist Nanpeidai

This project is a new construction project for a 22-unit apartment complex in a quiet, green area long known as the residential area of important figures in the political and business world. As people spend more time at home in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the way they work and live changes rapidly, the theme of this project is to explore how wealthy housing should respond to and change to address these common social issues. Traditionally, wealthy housing has been separated from the community due to the emphasis on privacy, and has not been considered a "shared asset" of the community. In contrast, in this project, we have attempted to depict the boundary between public and private like a thin membrane by using a single sheet of glass as facade, reflecting the green spaces and town on and around the site. In addition, after a detailed analysis of the neighborhood, we have created a living space that combines a high degree of freedom and openness by connecting the green spaces on the site with the surrounding green spaces and controlling the line of sight with the shade and distance of the green spaces.
The designers fully demonstrated their accumulated knowledge and insight into apartment complex design, and were recognized for their pursuit of both an open facade and privacy by focusing on windows.

[Best Environmental and Technical Award]
Hamamatsucho Exage Building Renovation Project

Tenant office building located in the city center (designed by another company, 2001 (Completed in 2013) renovation plan. 100 In response to the desire of the business operator to realize a "building that will last for 10 years," we have drawn up a comprehensive renovation plan for the interior of the common areas and provided support for disaster response. 72 New emergency generator equipment and oil tanks will enable 24-hour operation. BCP In addition to strengthening measures, ZEB We made proposals based on a long-term perspective, taking advantage of our know-how in considering energy consumption. We carried out analysis of current energy consumption, creation of various energy reduction menus, and consideration of business costs and equipment specifications from the early stages of planning. ZEB As a result of proceeding with the design while understanding and sharing the "standards being met," 10,000 This is rare for an existing building renovation of over 200 m2. ZEB Oriented In recent years, we have acquired the certification for the entire life cycle of buildings, from material procurement to construction, operation, and demolition. CO2 The "whole life carbon" that indicates the amount of emissions is attracting attention. 100 Rather than continuing to use it for years, CO ₂ Emissions of approximately 20 It was confirmed that a reduction of % was possible.
The project was recognized for its significance in taking on the challenging theme of "ZEB Renovation of a large-scale building" and for demonstrating our technological capabilities to society.

[Special Award]
Efforts to promote ZEB using BIM and energy-saving calculation assistance tools

As the global movement towards carbon neutrality accelerates, the construction industry has also set targets of achieving ZEB standards for new buildings by 2030 and ZEB standards for the average of existing stock by 2050. Despite this high social need, the energy-saving calculations required for considering ZEB and obtaining certification are time-consuming tasks such as organizing building information and inputting various data, which is an issue. Therefore, BIM is being used to handle this information and efficiency is being promoted by linking it with various tools. In a model project, it was possible to halve the time required for calculations. The use of BIM is expected to improve work efficiency even in new construction projects where building information is prone to change, and will also lead to more advanced energy-saving considerations at the early stages of design.
As part of our efforts to "create tools for design," we were recognized for our thorough efforts to simplify the system so that anyone can use it. Currently, we are promoting the introduction of BIM, and this initiative will help to popularize it.

[Environmental and Technical Award]
Composite floor system that realizes an integrated work space that prioritizes the environment (Nikon Headquarters/Innovation Center)

As the head office facility of the company, which started as an optical company, we developed structural components to realize the distinctive use of "light" including daylight utilization and lighting plans. In conjunction with the ductless ceiling, it became possible to simply construct a 14.5m deep ribbed PC floor slab, and for the first time in Japan, we adopted a composite slab consisting of a series of components: a PC slab with a truss-shaped flat bar embedded in it (= lower chord), an angle iron connected to the flat bar, and topping concrete (= upper chord). The PC ends exposed around the windows are gently curved in a three-dimensional shape, creating a system that effectively introduces external light into the column-free indoor space. At the same time, the voids between the PC slab and the topping concrete are used as return air and smoke exhaust routes. Line lighting is installed in the installation clearance.
The project was evaluated for utilizing the technical capabilities unique to an architectural firm to integrate design, structure, and facilities to create a comfortable space, and for clearly expressing the relationship between them.

[Related content here]

[Consulting Award]
Nagasaki Stadium City Project

This is a stadium and arena complex construction project that aims to be a "role model for private-sector-led regional revitalization." We were in charge of the commercial for the main facility and related construction work to ensure business viability while maximizing the appeal of the facility. In response to the client's request to "conduct parallel considerations of business viability and construction plans," we built a cross-sectional platform that enabled decision-making with various stakeholders. We responded by exploring the feasibility of the project and resolving each issue. In addition to planning the schedule and construction process for the opening, we shortened the overall construction period by about one month by adjusting the construction sections. We achieved the target cost by centralizing cost management and mitigating the impact of price increases through the conclusion of price increases rules. The concourse and stadium seats are open on a daily basis, creating a familiar facility where local people can gather.

[Project Management Award]
Harumi 5-chome West District Type 1 Urban Redevelopment Project 5-5 Block A to F Buildings design development and Construction Supervision

The "HARUMI FLAG" development project will be used as a temporary athlete's village for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games after completion, and then redeveloped into residential housing. Our company is responsible for architectural design and construction supervision of six of the 21 residential buildings. In order to create a single townscape, we repeatedly adjusted facade and exterior structure with different designers and architects for each block. Even though construction was suspended due to the postponement of the Games, we conducted various discussions with related parties so that the project could be restarted as quickly as society recovered. Through detailed design and construction plans, we were able to realize an unprecedented project in which each residence was "Renovation (before being sold)" from "athlete's village specifications" to "residential specifications" after the Games ended. Currently, construction of a new tower building, designed by our company, is underway. It will be fully opened in September​ ​2025.

[Project Management Award]
Eight Code Hakata Station Building New Construction

This was a architectural design and construction supervision project for a mid-sized office building for rent near Hakata Station. The north side features an open glass curtain wall with framed edges, while the south side features waist-high walls and horizontal windows that reduce environmental impact and match the neighborhood. Making full use of the local network that has been built up to date, we carried out appropriate budget planning and "forward-thinking" Cost Management based on meticulous information gathering, including regular interviews with contractors. As a result, the decision to make the building ZEB was made midway through construction, and even in the face of social conditions such as construction extensions and rising prices when making various design changes, we were able to create a ZEB Ready-certified building within the client's expected budget. This project achieved full occupancy early on and earned high satisfaction from the client.

[Project Management Award]
Construction Management for "Yokohama Sympho Stage"

Yokohama Symphostage is a large-scale complex consisting of offices, hotels, shops, etc., created by a consortium of five private developers. It is a sectional ownership building, with a complex structure in which each exclusive area has a different owner and project stakeholders. Our company managed the project for about five years, from schematic design stage to the construction stage. By collecting fair and impartial opinions from each of the five companies and thoroughly consolidating information from discussions in various subcommittees, we contributed to the formulation of a construction plan that reflected all of the diverse requests. In addition, we were solely responsible for complex cost management, and performed meticulous VE / CD adjustments for each section. All companies achieved their goal of completing construction within the project budget with a high level of satisfaction.

[Achievement Award]
A series of projects related to urban planning proposals for the Ikebukuro West Exit area

We have been consulting for the redevelopment preparatory association and Tobu Railway in this area for about 10 years. This time, we aimed to develop a walkable station area in collaboration with architecture and urban infrastructure, and proposed an architectural plan that would realize "reorganization of the infrastructure in front of the station, including a traffic plaza," while also "rebuilding while utilizing the Tobu Railway station functions." As the preparatory association and Tobu Railway worked together to propose urban planning, we realized the two projects as one plan, taking into account the ideas of both parties. In order to realize these plans, we proposed a total of 16 urban plans, including roads and parks, in addition to the urban regeneration special district. Currently, we are continuing to design the station-town node space development that will be the face of the new city, and the formation of a space in collaboration with "Ikebukuro West Exit Park GLOBAL RING" (designed by our company in 2019), and we are also working on forming an area management organization.

[Achievement Award]
Singapore National Project: Top 3 Winners in NSC Competition and Future Outlook

​The North South Corridor (NSC), a major road that runs north-south through Singapore, is currently being undergrounded and elevated. In 2023-2024, an international competition was held to convert the surface streets of the NSC into a corridor to serve not only the motorists, but also one that supports walking, cycling, and use of public transport, and is lined with public spaces and greenery. The NSC attracted attention as a place to propose a master plan for one of the world's leading urban pedestrian spaces. Mitsubishi Jisho Design Asia (based in Singapore) and Mitsubishi Jisho Design formed an international team with companies from Japan and overseas to take on the challenge. They proposed a community created by a succession of green spaces and semi-outdoor spaces, sublimating the know-how they had built up in Marunouchi in the local context. Although they came top 3, they were highly evaluated, and gained a solid foothold in international, national-scale design competitions.

[Project explanation page is here]

[+EMOTION Award]
SAKA Museum

An art museum located in Bali, Indonesia. It aims to be more than just a tourist spot; it is a place where visitors can appreciate and experience the rich art, religion, and culture of the region in a space that is in harmony with the abundant nature. The design concept is "A Moon on Water," and the museum is designed to resemble a crescent moon floating on a basin of water, at the end of a walk through a vast forest. Approached via a gentle slope, it is a facility where visitors can experience the rich surrounding environment and traditional art as one.

[Related news release here]

[+EMOTION Award]
Harumi 3-chome Project

The planned redevelopment site is the intersection of the axis that connects the city center, such as Tsukiji and Ginza, with the waterfront area. With the approval of the complex, the offices and hotel are arranged in separate buildings, and a green space that connects with the adjacent Reimeibashi Park is developed in front of the complex. At the same time, a deck is connected to the opposite Harumi Daisan Park, and the development of a multi-level pedestrian network aims to create an appearance that is rooted in the local community. The design of the two buildings was inspired by the natural phenomenon known as "ship wakes," creating facade that is appropriate for the gateway to the Harumi area.

[+EMOTION Award]
Shin-Aoyama Building Renovation

Our Company ^* Under design 1978 This project was completed in 2010 and is an update to a core facility in the area, with an underground station for three subway lines and a complex of offices, restaurants, and retail spaces. In addition to introducing a new shared lounge for building employees, we also redesigned the common areas on the lower and upper floors, the courtyard plaza, and the underground shopping mall. By reading the distinctive context from the designs of previous architects and creatively intervening in this as the "style" of the building, we attempted to collaborate with history and devised a renovation that connects the architecture to the future.

* At that time, Mitsubishi Estate

[+EMOTION Award]
Digital Arts College Sendai New Campus

This was a design project for a 10-story school building with the theme of "creating a place for next-generation digital education." In order to accommodate a variety of learning styles, a large LED screen was installed in the entrance hall and interactive projection mapping was introduced. The open space created by the setback of the building is designed to be able to use both indoors and outdoors, and aims to bring student activities out into the community and to create a space that harmonizes with the tree-lined streets, symbolizing Sendai, the "City of Trees."

[+EMOTION Award]
Nikon Headquarters/Innovation Center Project Management

After a competitive competition, we were selected as architectural design and construction supervision for this project, and our extensive track record in head office building construction was recognized, so we were also in charge of project management. We established a system in which the project manager could provide all solutions related to this plan in one stop, and by providing comprehensive management such as issue organization, decision-making support, and schedule management support for the new building construction as well as various related construction works (FF&E, museum, dining, video content, etc.), we contributed to opening the hotel on budget and at the desired time.

[+EMOTION Award]
Promoting "MEP Engineering Speak: Idea Notes for Environments and Facilities"

This is a column project led by our MEP Engineering that has been running on our website since 2022. It was started with the desire to "communicate the fun and appeal of MEP Engineering to students and other people outside the company." From large-scale redevelopment to individual buildings, our wide range of projects are analyzed by the designers in charge as their own "facility initiatives." It introduces new ways of interpreting architecture, such as the way of thinking, the ingenuity behind it, and the collaboration between professions. Please take a look.

[Website here]

[+EMOTION Award]
The Warp: Regenerative Wood Design Series

This wooden 3D printed teahouse pavilion combines traditional Japanese woodworking techniques with cutting-edge 3D printing technology, and was created as an exhibit for Dubai Design Week 2024. It is made up of approximately 900 panels made from recycled wood powder produced during wood processing, and can be joined by hand without the use of nails or metal fittings. Each component was airlifted to Dubai in a standard parcel and assembled and disassembled on-site in a short period of time. It is one of the efforts aimed at realizing a sustainable circular economy.

[Related news release here]

[+EMOTION Award]
Presentation practice using AI in the initial stage and development of an AI platform

Mitsubishi Jisho Design Asia established the "AI Research Workshop" in 2024. It trialed the introduction of image, audio, and video generation AI to the initial proposals of several projects, and developed AI guidelines and a style library. It created a system in which anyone can create and share appropriate deliverables of the same quality according to the nature and stage of the project. This contributes to improved communication, such as accelerating policy discussions with clients and image-based communication.

[+EMOTION Award]
2024 8th Floor Office Neighborhood Association Activities

At our head office, an employee organization called the "Office Community Association" is active on each floor with the aim of improving the working environment. In particular, on the 8th floor, where many internal and external parties come and go, the installation of fixtures was completed by last year, but operational issues remained. Therefore, this year, we organized information about the office environment and implemented a trial introduction of group addresses, which has achieved great results in beautifying the office and improving work efficiency.