At the Crossroads of Land, Sea, and Air in Shibaura

Located near the Shibaura Canal and Hinode Pier, Shibaura serves as a key transportation hub connecting the Tokyo Bay area with central Tokyo. The BLUE FRONT SHIBAURA (Shibaura Project) began as a redevelopment of the Hamamatsucho Building (Toshiba Building) and leverages its location to promote a waterfront lifestyle and vibrant community. The twin towers, each approximately 230 meters tall and totaling about 550,000 m² of floor area, are being developed with distinct purposes: Building S will have three basement floors and 43 above-ground floors, while Building N will have three basement floors and 45 above-ground floors. The lower levels of both towers will feature commercial facilities, with mid-level floors designated for offices. The upper levels of Building S will house a hotel, while those of Building N will include residential spaces.
The project involves a phased approach: first, the low-rise portion of the existing building is being demolished, followed by the construction and handover of Building S. Afterward, the high-rise portion of the existing building will be dismantled, paving the way for Building N, the second phase. The project is scheduled for completion in fiscal year 2030. Shimizu Corporation has been involved in the demolition of the low-rise portion and the construction of Building S since 2021. Additionally, the Civil Engineering Division is handling the site’s surrounding infrastructure development.
Building S is the first to incorporate Shimizu's proprietary vibration control technology, BILMUS. This system separates the hotel floors (above the 35th floor) from the lower levels, connecting them with laminated rubber and oil dampers. This design reduces seismic vibrations by counteracting movements between the upper and lower sections, effectively turning the building into its own vibration control device.

Commitment to Design Excellence

Yagi always tells his team, “Approach this project with the mindset of creating a work of art.” He adds, “Our clients and design offices have key design elements they want to bring to life. While ensuring we address the critical considerations from a builder’s perspective during construction, we also pay close attention to the essential elements our clients and design offices value, crafting construction plans with utmost care and precision from every angle.”

Improving Efficiency with Material Transport Floors

After completing the excavation for the underground levels, the first-floor slab was constructed, allowing parallel work on the below- and above-ground structures using a two-step construction method. In regard to innovations in temporary construction planning, Yagi explains, “As part of a new experiment, we began constructing portions of the first and second basement floors early. This allowed trolleys to move laterally, significantly reducing material transport time compared to previous methods. Work efficiency improved dramatically, earning high praise from the workers. It also proved to be a highly innovative approach to ensuring effective process management.”
This innovative approach was implemented based on a proposal from the forward-thinking site manager. Yagi, who values harmony and wisdom as his guiding principles, emphasizes open communication with team members and makes an effort to respect each person's ideas and insights. In addition to its benefits on this site, he hopes to leverage this approach to foster knowledge accumulation and growth for future generations.

The entire project spans approximately 11 years, from demolishing the existing building to completing the construction. Yagi expressed his dedication, saying, “Our client has bet their company’s future on this monumental project. For me, this site represents the culmination of my career, and I am committed to meeting their expectations.” The team is working diligently to ensure the successful completion of Building S, the first of the twin towers, as a critical milestone in realizing the project’s vision.