The NEC ‘Supertower’ in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Designed by Nikken Sekkei, it was built between 1986 and 1990.
The NEC Headquarters Building is 180 meters tall, with 43 floors above ground and 4 floors below ground. It was designed by Nikken Sekkei and constructed by the NEC Headquarters Building Consortium, which consists of Kajima Corporation and Obayashi Corporation.
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.
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” allowing strong high-level winds deflected down the face of the tower to “escape” downwind, instead of being diverted further down the facade, where they could have adverse effects on the surrounding low buildings and pedestrians in the street. The opening also serves as a large “window” through which daylight enters the atrium and entrance hall located centrally in the low-rise part of the tower.“
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.)
Interior:
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.
