Tokyo Metropolitan Government BldgThe 22-year old Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (aka Tokyo City Hall or ‘Tocho’) in Shinjuku is facing a large-scale maintenance and repair bill estimated to cost 76.2 billion Yen (approximately 783 million USD).

Designed by architect Kenzo Tange, the government building was completed in 1991 at a cost of 156.9 billion Yen. The 243m tall building was once the tallest in Japan. 

This will be the first large-scale repair work to be carried out on the building. Air conditioning units, corroded water pipes and lighting need to be replaced. The building has also been plagued by water leaks during heavy rain.

Although the building did not suffer any structural damage in the 2011 earthquake, additional earthquake-retrofitting will also be carried out.

The city is still exploring ways to cut costs but are planning to begin repair work in 2014 with completion by 2020.

Source: The Tokyo Shimbun, October 3, 2013.

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