Nikken Sekkei’s Tokyo Building Earns WELL Platinum Certification Following Renovation
PRESS RELEASE
2022.09.26
Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Representative Director: President and CEO Atsushi Omatsu) announced on August 11, 2022, that it had earned Platinum certification under the WELL Building Standard® (hereinafter “WELL certification”), a performance evaluation system focused on human health and wellness, for the renovation of the 7th floor of the Nikken Sekkei Tokyo Building.
WELL certification is an evaluation system led by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) that measures, evaluates, and certifies various features and policies that impact human health and well-being (physical, mental, and social well-being). It combines best practices in design, construction,operation, to evaluate buildings (both new and existing) and their indoor environments that support people’s health and well-being.
WELL certification is an evaluation system led by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) that measures, evaluates, and certifies various features and policies that impact human health and well-being (physical, mental, and social well-being). It combines best practices in design, construction,operation, to evaluate buildings (both new and existing) and their indoor environments that support people’s health and well-being.
[Building Name] Nikken Sekkei Tokyo Building (Iidabashi, Chiyoda Ward)
[WELL Certification Evaluation Area] 7th-floor renovation area
[Evaluation Categories] The evaluation is broadly divided into 10 concepts—air, water, food, light, exercise, thermal environment, sound, materials, mind, and community—plus innovation. Points are awarded based on the fulfillment of mandatory and optional requirements within each concept.Among the certification levels—Silver (50–59 points), Gold (60–79 points), and Platinum (80 points or higher)—the project earned a total of 84 points, achieving Platinum certification in the “Existing Building Interior Renovation” category.
[WELL Certification Evaluation Area] 7th-floor renovation area
[Evaluation Categories] The evaluation is broadly divided into 10 concepts—air, water, food, light, exercise, thermal environment, sound, materials, mind, and community—plus innovation. Points are awarded based on the fulfillment of mandatory and optional requirements within each concept.Among the certification levels—Silver (50–59 points), Gold (60–79 points), and Platinum (80 points or higher)—the project earned a total of 84 points, achieving Platinum certification in the “Existing Building Interior Renovation” category.
Upgrading natural light, artificial lighting, the acoustic environment, fixtures, building materials, and other elements through renovation
On the hardware side, the renovation plan launched in 2019 was designed with WELL certification in mind. It utilized the capabilities of an electric exterior blind system (Note 1) to maximize natural light through the windows and ensure that conditioned air circulates freely throughout the space. Based on this office layout plan, the project included the replacement of lighting fixtures with LED models, introduced a sound masking system (Note 2), completely replaced all office chairs with BIFMA (Note 3)-certified models, installed height-adjustable dual monitor arms, and selected building materials with low VOC emissions. We conducted evaluations both before and after the renovation and actively implemented measures that could be incorporated into the renovation. Combined with the water purifiers and high-performance air filters that had been in place since the building’s completion, these efforts resulted in a high score.
Actively promote the creation of an environment based on our health policy and provide support for maintaining good health
On the organizational side,Guided by the Nikken Group’s corporate philosophy of “Contributing to Society Through Valuable Work” and based on its health policy “Being a Healthy Company—Valuable Work Starts with Health,” the company was recognized for its proactive efforts to create a safe and secure work environment and support employees’ self-directed health maintenance (Private). As a result, it received a perfect score of 12 points in the “Mind” and “Community” categories.Regular mental health training sessions, stress assessments, a complete smoking ban, and flexible work options—such as working from home—contributed to our score. Additionally, in the “Innovation” category, the operation of our in-house massage room and the LEED O+M certification for the Nikken Sekkei Tokyo Building were highly evaluated.
By obtaining this certification for an existing building, we have expanded—even if only slightly—the possibilities for achieving WELL certification in buildings other than new constructions. Moving forward, we will leverage this expertise to further contribute to the creation of environments, cities, and architecture that prioritize well-being through the services we provide to our clients.
By obtaining this certification for an existing building, we have expanded—even if only slightly—the possibilities for achieving WELL certification in buildings other than new constructions. Moving forward, we will leverage this expertise to further contribute to the creation of environments, cities, and architecture that prioritize well-being through the services we provide to our clients.
You can find more details about WELL certification below.
Note 1: Motorized exterior blind system: A system that uses motorized blinds installed on the outside of windows to provide appropriate solar shading while maintaining views and a sense of openness
Note 2: Sound masking system: A system that plays simulated background sounds, such as air conditioning noise, to make conversations less audible to those nearby
Note 3: BIFMA: The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (a U.S. standard for office furniture)
Note 2: Sound masking system: A system that plays simulated background sounds, such as air conditioning noise, to make conversations less audible to those nearby
Note 3: BIFMA: The Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (a U.S. standard for office furniture)
About Nikken Sekkei
Nikken Sekkei is a professional services firm specializing in architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services. For 120 years since its founding in 1900, Nikken Sekkei has been committed to creating value through "social environment design," which aims to solve both explicit and implicit social issues, in order to meet the demands of society and the diverse needs of its clients. To date, it has been involved in various projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and in recent years has expanded into India and Europe.
Contact information regarding this matter
株式会社日建設計 広報室 Tel. 03-5226-3030（代表） e-mail：webmaster@nikken.jp
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