Launching a New Service Focused on "Behavioral Change"
Proposing mechanisms where each individual’s actions contribute to a better society
~July 1, 2023: “Commons Group” Launches at Project Development Department ~
PRESS RELEASE
2023.06.30
Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Atsushi Omatsu) will establish “Commons Group,” a company providing consulting services focused on behavioral change, on July 1, 2023.
From "Action Proposals" to "Behavioral Change"
Throughout its history of architectural and civil engineering design and supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services, Nikken Sekkei has proposed new ways of acting to users through the spaces it has created.
The newly established "Commons Group" is a new organization that leverages the knowledge and expertise cultivated by Nikken Sekkei to offer diverse proposals, including buildings, spaces, systems, and processes, that encourage "behavioral change" in each employee, citizen, and consumer, in line with the visions of society and its clients.
The newly established "Commons Group" is a new organization that leverages the knowledge and expertise cultivated by Nikken Sekkei to offer diverse proposals, including buildings, spaces, systems, and processes, that encourage "behavioral change" in each employee, citizen, and consumer, in line with the visions of society and its clients.
Why "commons"?
"Commons" is almost synonymous with "common land" or "shared land," and refers to a common place belonging to a community. It means a space that is not owned or occupied by any particular person or group, and that anyone can use freely.
Generally, many "spaces" within buildings and cities are divided into categories such as owner (manager) and user, public and private, and the roles, uses, functions, effects, and benefits that each entity seeks from the space do not always coincide. This is the root cause of various problems.
By carefully unraveling the underlying challenges and bridging the gap between both sides, architectural and urban spaces can be transformed into spaces capable of maximizing their utility as social capital, increasing their recognition as shared assets among stakeholders, and providing new value. Furthermore, it will foster greater attachment among each stakeholder and improve sustainability.
The group name "Commons" reflects our challenge to provide "behavioral change consulting" that offers systems, processes, and spaces to promote the sharing of assets and improved sustainability in architecture and urban areas.
Generally, many "spaces" within buildings and cities are divided into categories such as owner (manager) and user, public and private, and the roles, uses, functions, effects, and benefits that each entity seeks from the space do not always coincide. This is the root cause of various problems.
By carefully unraveling the underlying challenges and bridging the gap between both sides, architectural and urban spaces can be transformed into spaces capable of maximizing their utility as social capital, increasing their recognition as shared assets among stakeholders, and providing new value. Furthermore, it will foster greater attachment among each stakeholder and improve sustainability.
The group name "Commons" reflects our challenge to provide "behavioral change consulting" that offers systems, processes, and spaces to promote the sharing of assets and improved sustainability in architecture and urban areas.
The effectiveness of "behavioral change" in an age of uncertainty
In today's highly uncertain society, often referred to as the VUCA era, social issues are becoming increasingly complex, and it is becoming more difficult to envision the ideal state or the form we should create, especially in terms of promoting innovation and digital transformation (DX). In such times, we believe that creating and sharing a "system" that starts with "behavioral change" aligned with the desired direction will lead to a future where we can naturally achieve common goals while gaining the acceptance of each individual.
For example, the workplace modernization driven by the rapidly advancing work style reforms of recent years is no longer just about creating "spaces" that can accommodate various uses and work styles. It now requires systems, talent development, and management that are crucial for corporate management, such as innovation management, employee self-realization, and improved organizational engagement—in other words, "mechanisms" that become shared assets (commons) for the company (management) and employees. The process of realization itself is also becoming an important objective. For these reasons, we strongly recognize the effectiveness of an approach that starts with behavioral change and the need for consulting.
For example, the workplace modernization driven by the rapidly advancing work style reforms of recent years is no longer just about creating "spaces" that can accommodate various uses and work styles. It now requires systems, talent development, and management that are crucial for corporate management, such as innovation management, employee self-realization, and improved organizational engagement—in other words, "mechanisms" that become shared assets (commons) for the company (management) and employees. The process of realization itself is also becoming an important objective. For these reasons, we strongly recognize the effectiveness of an approach that starts with behavioral change and the need for consulting.
Sales of 1.5 billion yen in 2026
Promoting action to solve social issues is estimated to create a social impact of approximately 11 trillion yen (EY JAPAN estimate), of which Nikken Sekkei estimates that the consulting market for promoting behavioral change, which it can access, is approximately 200 billion yen. We will develop our business and areas of focus with a target of 1.5 billion yen in sales by 2026.
About the organization and structure of the Commons Group
The Commons Group will integrate and reorganize Nikken Activity Design Lab. (NAD) (New Frontier Development Group), Public Asset Lab (Urban and Civil Project Department), and EmotionScape Lab (New Frontier Development Group), which have been providing user-centric consulting services related to activities and space utilization.
The Commons Group will consist of the following four units: “Workstyle,” “Public Assets,” “Commercial Experience,” and “EmotionScape.”
In the medium term, we aim to expand into an even broader field focused on “behavioral change.”
The Commons Group will consist of the following four units: “Workstyle,” “Public Assets,” “Commercial Experience,” and “EmotionScape.”
In the medium term, we aim to expand into an even broader field focused on “behavioral change.”
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Work Styles
(Case Studies © Kenta Hasegawa)
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Public Assets
(SHIBUYA KITAYA PARK
© Forward Stroke Inc.) -
Commercial Experience
(MIYASHITA PARK
© Nacása & Partners Inc.) -
Emotionscape
(Shibuya River Street)
Furthermore, we believe that "Behavioral Change Consulting" should ideally be developed by combining the knowledge Nikken Sekkei has accumulated from its architectural and urban planning perspectives with expertise from a wide range of fields and disciplines. Therefore, we are seeking new team members, including individuals with expertise not previously found at Nikken Sekkei.
Furthermore, as a methodology to meet the new societal needs of Nikken Sekkei, which aims to "build an open platform," we will promote collaboration with various people outside the company.
Furthermore, as a methodology to meet the new societal needs of Nikken Sekkei, which aims to "build an open platform," we will promote collaboration with various people outside the company.
A message from Hiroaki Otani, Principal of Commons Group
Up until now, we have influenced people's behavior by creating architecture and cities. With the launch of the Commons Group, we intend to reverse this order. That is, by anticipating changes in people's behavior, we will transform the way architecture and cities are designed, and further expand our consulting to include mechanisms that delve into human resources and systems. We, the employees of Nikken Sekkei, will put our insatiable curiosity, challenging spirit, and above all, our passion to contribute to society to good use in our work going forward.
About the three labs that will be integrated
○Nikken Activity Design Lab. (NAD)
Established in 2013. We have accumulated expertise in a consulting business that approaches space through “activity design”—an approach unprecedented in the design industry.
〇Public Asset Lab (PAL)
Established in 2018. We have been responsible for managing the “SHIBUYA KITAYA PARK” as its designated administrator, among other roles. We have worked to comprehensively design the planning, design, and operation of public spaces, transforming parks into multi-purpose spaces where users take center stage, and have also worked to create systems that extend these efforts to the development of surrounding neighborhoods.
〇EmotionScape Lab (ESL)
Established in 2021. Focusing on “emotions”—which underpin people’s behaviors and value judgments—we carry out our work by realizing spaces and states (Emotion Scapes) that provide new value for the future.
Established in 2013. We have accumulated expertise in a consulting business that approaches space through “activity design”—an approach unprecedented in the design industry.
〇Public Asset Lab (PAL)
Established in 2018. We have been responsible for managing the “SHIBUYA KITAYA PARK” as its designated administrator, among other roles. We have worked to comprehensively design the planning, design, and operation of public spaces, transforming parks into multi-purpose spaces where users take center stage, and have also worked to create systems that extend these efforts to the development of surrounding neighborhoods.
〇EmotionScape Lab (ESL)
Established in 2021. Focusing on “emotions”—which underpin people’s behaviors and value judgments—we carry out our work by realizing spaces and states (Emotion Scapes) that provide new value for the future.
About Nikken Sekkei
Nikken Sekkei is a professional services firm that provides 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 apparent and potential 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, the Middle East, and other regions, and in recent years has expanded into India and Europe. In March 2021, it declared a "climate emergency" to promote efforts toward a decarbonized society.
Contact Information / Media Inquiry
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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