Urban Development & Master Planning

Cities around the world are undergoing diverse processes of change, such as growth, contraction, or regeneration, each facing unique challenges specific to their respective regions.
In Japan, too, the challenges of urban contraction due to a declining birthrate and aging population are progressing simultaneously with the regeneration of existing urban areas. Amidst these changes, Nikken Sekkei has been involved in numerous projects, with planners, architects, and engineers collaborating to address social issues through the creation of attractive urban spaces.
Leveraging our extensive experience and expertise, we provide advanced visions, design proposals, and a wide range of consulting services, both domestically and internationally, covering everything from urban master plan formulation to large-scale mixed-use development, urban redevelopment, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), smart cities, and the creation of public spaces.

Service Introduction

Urban Development Planning

Urban development plans require a solid strategy that identifies the potential of a region and ensures a high-quality urban environment for future generations. We comprehensively analyze the elements that shape a city, including land use, transportation, public facilities, private development, and the environment, and construct feasible planning scenarios that take into account the current situation and future vision. Furthermore, in hub developments such as station-to-city development (TOD), we emphasize a perspective that gradually updates the urban structure by addressing wide-area circulation planning, reorganization of public spaces, and complex stakeholder coordination. We support consensus building through public-private partnerships and dialogue with residents, and assist in urban development that sustainably enhances the value of cities while considering culture and the quality of life.
Urban Redevelopment Consulting

Redeveloping existing urban areas requires complex considerations to strike a balance between the continuation of daily life and businesses, the feasibility of the project, and the improvement of its public benefit. We provide comprehensive support throughout the process, from on-site surveys and setting future visions to developing business schemes, formulating plans, and building consensus. We guide projects smoothly by systematically addressing challenges, taking into account a multifaceted perspective that includes safe and high-quality buildings, pedestrian flow, landscape, quality of public spaces, and the attractiveness of the region. We offer redevelopment consulting that considers both the preservation of local culture and the creation of new value, contributing to the formation of a livable and sustainable urban environment.
Urban Design

In urban design, we embody visions for urban development both domestically and internationally, formulating master plans based on uniquely local and creative concepts. This involves engaging stakeholders such as governments, investors, and developers, building a foundation for consensus building in the initial stages of urban development. Overseas, we strive to propose sustainable and feasible solutions that consider local culture, history, and investment environments, drawing upon universal urban principles and the urban development expertise cultivated domestically. Therefore, we go beyond simply formulating master plans; we continuously create design guidelines and provide design supervision, working alongside clients from planning to implementation to guide the realization of better urban spaces.
Civil Design

Infrastructure that supports society requires not only safety, convenience, and comfort, but also long-term maintainability. Our work covers urban facilities such as roads, railways, rivers, underground spaces, pedestrian decks, and plazas, as well as social infrastructure facilities such as steel production facilities, gas and oil-related facilities, and onshore and offshore wind turbines. We comprehensively analyze geological, structural, transportation, and environmental conditions to create optimal plans and designs that harmonize with architecture. Furthermore, we provide technical consulting both domestically and internationally, including proximity impact assessments associated with urban densification, ground issues in soft ground, surveying and geological investigations, soil contamination countermeasures, and flood control measures. Our team of civil engineering and architectural experts collaborate to provide civil design that realizes social infrastructure that is rational, aesthetically pleasing, and considers the local environment and sustainability.
Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental impact assessment is a crucial process for scientifically understanding the impact of development projects on the surrounding environment and ensuring social trust. We investigate diverse factors such as climate, ecosystems, air, noise, vibration, wind, and landscape, and predict and evaluate impacts using quantitative and qualitative methods. Where necessary, we conduct numerical simulations and model verifications for wind environments, etc., and prepare highly transparent materials to support the comparison of alternative plans and the development of impact mitigation measures. We also handle explanations to residents and coordination with stakeholders to facilitate consensus building. We provide highly reliable environmental impact assessments that balance project safety and environmental protection, contributing to sustainable community development.