SoftBank and Nikken Sekkei Establish “SynapSpark, Inc.” to Build Smart Buildings That Continuously Evolve Autonomously Through Data Utilization
~Solving Social Issues by Connecting People, Buildings, and Cities Through Data to Support the Construction of Smart Buildings~

SoftBank Corp. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO Executive Officer; CEO: Junichi Miyakawa; hereinafter “SoftBank”) and Nikken Sekkei Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director President and CEO: Atsushi Omatsu, hereinafter “Nikken Sekkei”) will establish a joint venture"SynapSpark, Inc." (hereinafter "SynapSpark"), a joint venture company that supports the construction of "Autonomous Buildings"—smart buildings that utilize data to continuously evolve autonomously—on December 1, 2023.

SynapSpark is a company established to support the construction of smart buildings and to plan and provide applications and data integration platforms (Building OS) for smart buildings.SoftBank, with its technology and expertise in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) and data infrastructure, and Nikken Sekkei—a social and environmental design platform with a proven track record as a group of experts in architectural design and urban development that solves social issues from a comprehensive perspective—will combine their digital and architectural expertise to address social issues by leveraging building data.By combining the strengths of both companies, we can incorporate a system—as a core building function—that centrally manages and integrates data from each building’s facility systems, which were previously optimized individually.This will not only enable real-time, comprehensive optimization of equipment operation and energy usage across the entire building but also allow for integration with external applications to expand the building’s functionality, thereby enabling the construction of “Autonomous Buildings”—smart buildings that continue to evolve autonomously by leveraging data.

In recent years, due to work-style reforms and the spread of remote work, the requirements for building functionality have been changing—with an increasing need to support comfort and diverse work styles. In particular, the challenges have become more complex, as it has become essential to address issues—such as decarbonization, labor-saving measures, and safety improvements—that cannot be resolved by a single building alone.While smart buildings are recognized both domestically and internationally as an effective solution to these challenges, the current reality is that the construction and utilization of smart buildings in Japan remain limited. This is due to difficulties in integrating existing building systems with the latest external applications, as well as a shortage of personnel proficient in both the building systems required for smart buildings and digitalization.

Against this backdrop, SoftBank and Nikken Sekkei are establishing SynapSpark to provide support for the construction of future smart buildings by combining the two companies’ strengths in technology and expertise. The name “SynapSpark” embodies the concept of “serving as a ‘synapse’—a nexus of information connecting people, buildings, and cities—to accelerate the widespread adoption of smart buildings.”

(1) Consulting and design support services for the construction of smart buildings that integrate building systems with building operating systems
We provide consulting and design support to enable advanced integration between building systems, the building operating system, and application suites, and we build a system that allows data from various building systems to integrate seamlessly, enabling the addition and updating of features that optimize the entire system as needed.

② Planning and Provision of Building Operating Systems and Applications
We develop and provide solutions—including a building operating system (OS) and applications that run on it—for a diverse range of stakeholders involved with buildings, such as building users, property owners, and property managers, and we operate a business aimed at continuously enhancing property value and the user experience.

SynapSpark leverages AI (artificial intelligence), IoT (Internet of Things), and other technologies to integrate and utilize data related to people, buildings, and cities. In addition,By integrating with applications and solutions from various partners, we are building a system capable of optimizing building functions in real time and delivering new value, thereby promoting the widespread adoption of efficient and attractive smart buildings in Japan.

Nikken Sekkei is a professional services firm engaged in architectural design and supervision, urban design, and related research, planning, and consulting services.For 120 years since our founding in 1900, we have been committed to creating value through “Social and Environmental Design,” which seeks solutions to both apparent and latent social issues, in order to meet the needs of society and the diverse requests of our clients.To date, we have been involved in a wide range of projects in Japan, China, ASEAN, and the Middle East, and in recent years, we have expanded our operations to India and Europe. In March 2021, we issued a “Climate Emergency Declaration” as part of our efforts toward a decarbonized society.

・ All other company names and product and service names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.

株式会社日建設計 広報室
Tel：03-5226-3030　 E-mail： webmaster@nikken.jp