Shibuya Ward Office Redevelopment 1

Demolition of the 51-year old Shibuya Ward Office and Public Hall buildings will start this November.  Discussions to redevelop the government offices began in early 2013 after a building inspection found that the ward office building did not meet minimum earthquake-resistant standards and was at risk of collapse in an earthquake with a shindo level of upper-6.

The Shibuya government office buildings include the 6-storey ward office and the 4-storey Shibuya Public Hall (Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall). They were completed in 1964, and the Hall hosted the weight-lifting events for the ’64 Summer Olympics.

To help cover the costs of rebuilding, part of the government-owned land will be leased to Mitsui Fudosan Residential under a 70-year fixed term. Mitsui will construct a 143m tall, 39-storey residential tower. At the end of the lease, residents will vacate their apartments, the building will be demolished and the land will be returned to the local government.

The original planned height of the apartment building was 120m and 37-storeys, however additional space was offered to the developer after a cost blowout meant that extra funds were required to cover the construction cost of the government buildings. Construction and labour costs had risen by around 30 ~ 50% due to increased demand for reconstruction in Tohoku and development for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Construction of the new buildings will start in June 2016 with completion in 2018. The apartment building is scheduled for completion in 2019.

During reconstruction, temporary government offices will be located in Shibuya 1 Chome.

Shibuya Ward Office
The new Shibuya Ward Office
Shibuya Public Hall
The new Shibuya Public Hall

Other developments in Shibuya:

  • The NHK Shibuya Broadcasting Centre, located directly across the street from the Shibuya Ward Office, is going to be rebuilt. The East Building was completed in 1965 and there are concerns over its earthquake-resistance. The project might be completed by 2025.
  • Shibuya Station Redevelopment: Several office towers and a residential tower are planned for the Shibuya station area. Completion of the entire project is expected by 2027.
  • Miyashita Park: The strip of land that runs between the Yamanote Line train tracks and Meiji Dori Street will be redeveloped by Mitsui Fudosan. The new park will include retail space as well as a 17-storey hotel on the northern end. Completion is expected in 2019.
  • Miyashitacho Project: A 16-storey office, retail and residential building is planned for a site fronting Meiji Dori Street and just north of Shibuya Station. Completion is expected in 2017.
  • Shibuya Parco Building Redevelopment: A 20-storey, 110m tall retail and office building is going to replace the old Parco department store just down the street from the Shibuya ward office. Completion is expected in 2019.
  • Jinnan 1 Chome Project: Sumitomo are building a 22-storey, 84m tall apartment building just east of the ward office. The site was originally home to the ‘Meiji Heights’ apartment building which was built in 1964. Sumitomo acquired the building and land in 2013 and the building was demolished in 2014. Completion of the new building is expected in early 2017.

Source: The Kensetsu Tsushin Shimbun, July 22, 2015.

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