Vol. 8
Spring1999 |
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Good Design Award for
Ecole de Hayama
In September 1998, the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization designated Kajima the winner of the top award in the Facility Category of the Good Design Awards (G Mark Awards) in recognition of the conceptual modernity of Kajima's design and construction work for the Ecole de Hayama, or the Shonan Training Center of Shiseido Co., Ltd. One of 14 award fields, the Facility Category was established in 1994. A total of 54 candidates were nominated for this award.
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Restoration of Stone Walls
at Sendai Castle
In cooperation with the municipal government of Sendai, Kajima is using 3-D computer-aided design (CAD) technologies to faithfully restore the retaining wall surrounding Sendai Castle. Sendai Castle is a noteworthy structure well known as the former residence of Masamune Date and other historically significant figures.
The wall in question is 190 meters long and ranges from 5 to 20 meters in height. During the 400 years since the wall's construction, many of its component stones were dislocated by earthquakes, the vibration of motor vehicles, the growth of trees, and so on. The displaced stones had been left as they were, and there was a growing danger that the entire wall might collapse. The component stones are square-cut, each averaging one ton in weight, and were cut to fit together perfectly. Because of this precision cutting, the wall cannot be restored unless the stones are replaced in their original positions, but no record is currently available.
Accordingly, before disassembling the wall, Kajima measured and input data on the dimensions of the facing surfaces of approximately 10,000 stones. This data was used to create a high-precision simulation of the wall's original appearance. This simulation is effectively guiding specialized architects in their efforts to restore the wall, and the restoration project is scheduled to be completed in 2001.
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New URA Head Office
Building Completed
The new head office for the Singapore government's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) was completed in September 1998 after more than two years of construction by Kajima Overseas Asia Pte. Ltd. (K.O.A.) This new building is conveniently located in the middle of the central business district of Singapore.
K.O.A. and Kajima Design Asia Pte. Ltd. were contracted for this project on a design, development, and build basis. The building's conceptual design was done by the URA itself, and Kenzo Tange Associates was involved as a design consultant. It consists of 2 underground stories, 16 stories of offices, and 5 stories of podium block. There is an observatory with floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the top of the office block. The total floor area amounts to 45,372 square meters.
The URA is Singapore's national planning authority and statutory board under the Ministry of National Development. This ministry is responsible for Singapore's physical development through long-term land-use planning, public housing, public works, urban redevelopment, parks and recreation, as well as other aspects of the physical development of Singapore.
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Topping-Out Ceremony for
the Sony Center Pottsdam Square Project
in Berlin
Plans to transfer Germany's capital functions to Berlin in 2000 have spurred an unprecedented building boom, and among the largest of the construction projects now under way in Berlin is the Sony Center Pottsdam Square Project. On September 2, 1998, the mayor of Berlin and approximately 1,000 other people attended the topping-out ceremony. Kajima was represented at the ceremony by a delegation headed by Director and Senior Advisor Shoichi Kajima and Managing Director Naoki Atsumi, while Sony was represented by its entire board, including Chairman Norio Ohga and President Nobuyuki Idei. Sony, Kajima, and a leading U.S.-based developer, Tishman & Speyer Properties, have invested in the project, which will create 160,000 square meters of floor space for offices, apartments, and other uses. In addition to offices and apartments, the project will feature an IMAX 3-D theater and premium restaurants. When it opens in spring 2000, the project is expected to become a high-profile symbol of Germany's new capital.
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Upgrading and Expanding Auto Plants
Kajima U.S.A. Inc. has recently completed three projects with a total budget of approximately US$35 million for the Saturn Corporation in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The first construction work Kajima U.S.A. has ever undertaken for a U.S. automaker, the projects involved the construction of a fire wall in the existing Body Shop and the expansion of Saturn's Vehicle Interior Systems Facility and Body Systems Facility. Special care was taken to avoid disrupting production by coordinating construction and manufacturing operations. All the projects were completed on or ahead of schedule, and Kajima received an award from Saturn for its performance.
In February 1998, Kajima de Mexico was awarded a design and build contract to expand the General Motors facility in Silao, Mexico. This facility produces the Chevrolet Suburban, which is distributed in Mexico and exported to other countries throughout the Americas. The US$25 million expansion project involved substantial additions to the existing Paint and Body shops as well as smaller additions to the General Assembly portion of the plant. Kajima was also responsible for doubling the size of incoming gas service and distribution throughout the facility. Scheduled to be completed in early 1999, the project has provided Kajima de Mexico with valuable experience.
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