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S
eibu Railway, the owner of this building, was
However, in order to take up 2,100 square meters to be one of
established in Ikebukuro in 1912. Seibu Railway’s
the largest office floors in the area, the construction needed to
corporate color is designed to express: safety and
cross the railroad. This would be the first time in Japan that a
reliability as a railroad company; facing head-on the challenge
skyscraper straddles a railroad, and so, safety during
of new things; and coexistence with the natural environment.
construction and setting in place safety measures against
The site of this project is where Seibu Railway began its
earthquakes were required.
operations and it is adjacent to Ikebukuro Station, the terminus station of Seibu Railway.
Next, to address all the issues, the construction process needed
Against this background, this project began with three major
out in “Development Plans for Railroad Station Premises and
missions: to design a 100-meter high-rise building featuring
the Collective Approval Process” in the comprehensive design
offices with the largest floor plates available in the area; to
system. The approach was for the building to straddle the
create a local landmark and a company headquarters
railroad via a deck and to build on top of this deck. As this
endowed with symbolism; and to rebuild the station-centered
building is located in Ikebukuro, the terminus station of Seibu
pedestrian networks.
Railway, it stands as a symbolic gateway for the trains coming
to follow and employ to the best advantage the guidelines set
back to the station.
