A six-story regional exchange center. The upper five and six floors are made of one-hour fireproof wood. The building consists of a wooden frame with pin-jointed columns and beams, and earthquake-resistant panels made of LVL panels embedded in steel frames. The earthquake-resistant panels are arranged in a checkerboard pattern on the exterior walls, forming a pattern on the façade. The seismic panels, which bear only the seismic forces, do not require fireproof covering and are exposed together with the steel frames inside the building. The first four floors of the steel-framed building have a series of large spaces open to the outside in a spiral pattern, and are open to local residents. The entire building is designed to reduce CO2 emissions by repeatedly using well water for radiant heating and cooling of the rooms.

Japan | Saitama

Shinkenchiku December 2011 issue 52P