Two projects designed by Nikken Sekkei Receive Top Honors in the Global Category of the “2025 ASHRAE Technology Awards”

Two projects in which Nikken Sekkei was involved in the design recently won top honors in two categories at the 2025 ASHRAE Technology Awards, organized by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (hereinafter ASHRAE).The awards ceremony, held on February 8 at the Hilton Orlando in Florida, was attended by our company’s Senior Executive Officer, Kitaro Mizude, and other project members.

It was established in 1999 by ASHRAE* (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) to promote the advancement of technologies related to air conditioning, sanitary engineering, and refrigeration. It is an international award that recognizes planning, design, and commissioning processes that contribute to occupant comfort, indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and the prevention of global warming.

*An international professional society dedicated to the advancement and development of technologies related to air conditioning and sanitary engineering, including heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration.

Grand Prize, Category I: Commercial Buildings – New

This is the R&D office building for the HD Hyundai, located in Seongnam, South Korea. With Wellness, Energy, and Communication as the core focus of the design, we implemented a “Geometric MEP System Design” that generates various synergistic effects by integrating a geometric design based on CUBE, VOID, and GRID with the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.The project incorporates technologies such as an exterior cladding with a steel outframe and radiant heating and cooling. Post-completion performance verification confirmed that the building achieves a comfortable indoor environment and reduces energy consumption by more than 40% compared to typical buildings in South Korea. Through quantitative verification of these effects, the results obtained can serve as a reference not only within South Korea but also in regions with similar climates.

Client: HD Hyundai
Designers: Nikken Sekkei, Heerim Architects & Planners Co., Ltd.

Grand Prize, Category II: Other Institutional – New

Located in Kyoto Prefecture, a designated Environmental Model City, the Kyoto City Hall Annex Project employs an innovative energy-saving method that uses heat converted from local natural energy sources—such as Kyoto’s abundant groundwater and forest resources—to condition the building.Furthermore, from the perspective of landscape preservation, the project integrated HVAC systems—such as radiant heating and cooling—that comply with Kyoto City’s building height restrictions, thereby creating a government office building that embodies the unique character of Kyoto.

Client: City of Kyoto
Architect: Nikken Sekkei