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25th Anniversary of the Completion of NEC's Head Office Building
Featured in this edition is the NEC head office building (NEC Super Tower), which has just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Completed in January 1990, the NEC Super Tower is also called the "rocket building" because of its unique shape. Standing out even amongst the many office buildings crowding the streets in Shiba, Minato Ward, the NEC Super Tower is a building that once seen can never be forgotten.
NEC Technical Journal's August 1990 issue (Vol. 43, No. 6) was a special issue devoted to the recently completed NEC Super Tower. From an overview of the building itself to detailed reports on the advanced information communications, OA systems, and facility management systems that it incorporated, this special issue provided an in-depth look at this remarkable new building.
Drawing from those articles, we will introduce the building's architectural concept, the reason for the amazing rocket-like contours, and the origin of the nickname "NEC Super Tower."
Architectural concept
Built to commemorate NEC's 90th anniversary, the NEC head office building was completed in January 1990. From the time the ground was broken in November 1986, construction lasted for a period of 3 years and 2 months.
In his introductory remarks to the issue, NEC's then Chairman/CEO, Kenzo Nakamura, explained how the goal had been to build a next-generation intelligent building where the employees working there would value each other's individuality while working with a sense of unity and that the whole building itself would be a showcase of the C&C system upon which our future dreams would be placed.
Remarks for Special Issue on NEC's Head Office Building (The NEC Super Tower)
At NEC, we are convinced that this building will be actively utilized as a tool to carry us into the 21st century. We hope that many people will visit it so that more people will come to understand the technology and philosophy underlying C&C.
Read the entire textThe reason for the unique contours
As the building rises, it becomes narrower in three stages (this is why it is called the "Rocket Building"). One of the building's other unique characteristics is the large opening between the lower and mid-level parts of the building that serves as a "wind vent".
This unique, eye-catching design was not created just to show off. The building was carefully designed to blend into its "environment" — including both the natural environment and the local architectural environment (This building is the first to apply the Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance.)
Toshio Ono, Director and General Manager of the building, explains, "This shape not only helps minimize the impact on the surrounding environment caused by wind and by blocking the sun, it also makes it possible to mitigate the sense of oppression peculiar to high-rise buildings." The wind vent also serves as a skylight through which daylight enters the atrium and entrance hall, helping to achieve a brighter office environment with more natural lighting.
This unique shape was carefully conceived and planned to create a comfortable office environment while putting the utmost priority on creating harmony with the local community and environment such as adjacent apartments and schools.
Origin of the nickname "NEC Super Tower"
The nickname of the NEC head office building is the "NEC Super Tower." The name was selected from more than 10,000 entries in an in-house contest. The enormous number of entries reflects the enthusiasm of NEC's employees.
The reason why the name "Super Tower" was chosen is based on a number of reasons. First, it's "Super" because the building is the first in Japan to employ a super frame construction. It's "Super" also because it's a next-generation intelligent building. And it's "Tower" because it looks like a tower, narrowing as it rises higher, just like the nearby Tokyo Tower. Indeed, the shape of the building is the very definition of the word "Tower."
Even the wind vent has a nickname. (Did you know that?) It's called "Wind Avenue." It's meant to give the impression of a tree-lined street through which light and wind pass. When you take into consideration the lush greenery that surrounds the head office building, it is really a suitable nickname.
Purpose of the NEC's Head Office Building (The NEC Super Tower)
NEC has recently completed an up-to-date building (The NEC Super Tower) as its main office. The NEC Super Tower is being attracted an attention to people as a new type of ultratall and intelligent building that stresses comfortable office environment towards the coming century.
This paper describes how to build the NEC Super Tower, and gives an outline of the design and environments for supporting productive activities in an office.
We hope you have enjoyed our introduction to the NEC head office building (NEC Super Tower) based on the special issue of NEC Technical Journal. The scenes of the office as seen in "Color Spot" all make us feel nostalgic for those times. But the appearance of our employees has not changed. Today, as twenty-five years ago, they remain dedicated to making a valuable contribution to the lives of our customers and the progress of society.
Please check back often to see how NEC is creating unique products and services for the future.
(Published May 22, 2015)