Embarking on Construction of a Large Office Building with Over 100,000 m2 in Total Floor Space

― MM 21-54 Project (Provisional Name) ―

  • Real Estate Development
  • Construction

August 1, 2017

Today, Shimizu Corporation (President: Kazuyuki Inoue) began construction on the MM21-54 Project (provisional name) as one part of an investment development project. This is the second round of large office building development for leasing in Minato Mirai 21 in Yokohama. The project is being built under the development concept of creating a next-generation workplace that will support the creative activities of companies, and will provide office space that adds a high degree of value in terms of flexibility, environment, well-being (health and comfort), and business continuity planning (BCP).

The construction site in Block 54 of central Minato Mirai 21 is located directly above Shintakashima Station on the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway Line. It is located in a highly convenient location, only a 7 minutes' walk from JR Yokohama Station (connected by a pedestrian deck) and about 30 minutes from Haneda Airport. It will be the largest project that Shimizu has built on its own, with 19 floors above ground and total floor area of around 102,000 m2, for a total investment of around 55 billion yen. Completion is scheduled for the end of February 2020.

Designed for flexibility, the office enables a flexible layout that ensures a maximum open space of around 4,600 m2. In order to accommodate diverse needs such as research facilities and showrooms, it also has four flexible floors that offer expansive spaces with a maximum ceiling height of 3,500 mm, a heavy duty zone that can withstand a floor load of 1,000 kg/m2, equipped with plumbing for water supply and drainage.

The first two floors will be equipped with stores, a childcare center, and conference facilities to enhance the convenience for tenant companies, and support daily life and business needs. An abundance of outdoor green spaces will be created on the premises to provide a relaxing business environment. The plaza and conference facilities will be opened in an emergency to contribute to the community by providing a temporary reception space for people who find it difficult to return home, emergency supplies, and disaster information.

In keeping with the development concepts of "environment" and "well-being," Shimizu's goal is to build a ZEB Ready building that has a pleasant office environment and enhances well-being. This will be achieved with a radiant air conditioning system that is quiet, does not generate unpleasant air drafts, and maintains an even temperature. The building will also conserve energy via a co-generation system. In terms of business continuity planning (BCP), the building will be equipped with a seismic isolation system that can counteract the long-period earthquake motion caused by a major earthquake and ensure building safety. The building will have an emergency generator capable of supplying electricity to the common areas for seven days, and will also continue to supply a certain level of electrical power to the offices from an emergency power source that uses intermediate-pressure gas for which there is a highly stable supply.

Once the building is completed, Shimizu intends to acquire LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification and CASBEE (Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency) Yokohama S-rank, as well as WELL certification under the Well Building Standard, a system for rating a building and its interior environment for health and comfort. The WELL certification has not yet been acquired by any building in Japan.

Shimizu intends to continue its active pursuit of the office building development business and other investment development business to build the next profit base in addition to the construction business.

<< For Reference >>

1. Plan Overview

Project Nam: MM21-54 Project (provisional name)
Location: 1-16, Minatomirai 5-chome, Nishi-ku, Yokohama
(7 minute walk from JR Yokohama Station, and directly above Shintakashima Station on the Minatomirai Line)
Plot Area: 13,503.78 m2
Purpose: Offices, shops, childcare center, conference facility, parking lot
Structure: Steel frame structure (seismically isolated structure)
Scale: 19 floors above ground; total floor area of 102,000 m2
Number of Parking Spaces: 177
Project Lead: Shimizu Corporation
Design and Construction: Shimizu Corporation

2. Specifications

Ceiling Height: 2,850 mm (3,500 mm or 3,250 mm on flexible floors)
OA Floor: 100 mm (350 mm on the 3rd floor only)
Floor Load Capacity: 500 kg/m2 (heavy duty zone: 1,000 kg/m2)
Electrical Capacitance: 60VA/m2
Other:
  • Radiant air conditioning system
  • Desiccant air conditioning
  • Co-generation system
  • Emergency power supply using intermediate-pressure gas

Conceptual Drawing of External View

3. WELL (The WELL Building Standard) Certification System

This is the world's first system for evaluating a building and its interior environment with a focus on well-being (health and comfort). A building and its interior environment are evaluated on around 100 items in the seven categories of Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort, and Mind, and a platinum, gold, or silver certification is awarded depending on the rating level. The number of registered certifications has expanded rapidly since certification began in 2014, mainly in the U.S. As of July 24, 2017, 31 buildings have been certified (in 8 countries), and applications have been submitted for 446 buildings (in 30 countries). Certification can be expected to proliferate in Japan as well, where companies are being encouraged to take a proactive role in health management to maintain and improve the health of employees. Shimizu has also participated in the Global Corporate Alliance to promote the acquisition of certification since April 2017. The alliance was formed by Delos Living, LLC, the U.S. company that created the WELL certification.

5. Land Acquisition History

Shimizu was selected as the developer in March 2016 by the city of Yokohama, which owned the land. We concluded a land purchase and sale agreement with Yokohama City in March 2017, and are now beginning construction. Shimizu also developed Yokohama i-Mark Place, another large rental office building in Minato Mirai 21 (Block 46). Yokohama i-Mark Place is a 14-story building with 97,000 m2 in total floor space and Shimizu began operating it in May 2014.

The information contained in this news release is the current information on the date of publication. Please be aware that this information may have changed by the time you view it. Please contact the company to inquire for further details.