On the 9th, Nippon Road held the opening ceremony of ``Tsuchiura Techno BASE', built in Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture. This is a complex facility that integrates the functions of a training facility, technical research institute, machinery center, and also has an exhibition function. It will be used to meet the needs of technological diversification, technology and skills transfer and employee training. About 50 people celebrated the day's opening, including President Toshiyuki Ishii, Representative Director and CEO Masakazu Hyodo, and other company officials, Mayor Mariko Ando, and local officials.
Chairman Ishii (left) and Mayor Ando
The construction site is Otsuno 1-4-1 in the same city. Four buildings were built on the approximately 4.1 hectare site: a research and training building, an accommodation building, a maintenance building and a machinery shed. Total floor area is 9,871 square meters. It has achieved ZEB (Net Zero Energy Building) certification. Shimizu Corporation handled the design and construction of the facility.
Research and training on building exteriors
A customer showroom has been set up on the first floor of the research and training building. Miniature models such as mixed logging mills and construction machinery will be on display, and paving technologies such as hybrid geese will be showcased. “The exhibition content is designed to engage the challenge of new technology,” the company said. On the second floor, we created a space to encourage communication around the grand staircase. The third floor is the workspace. We have created a comfortable working environment by introducing free addresses. Thin wood collected in Yusuhara town, Kochi Prefecture was used as the facility's interior material.
The accommodation building will be used to train new employees. There are 50 rooms equipped with refrigerators and work desks, and indirect lighting in the hallways creates a tranquil atmosphere. The cafe, which the company says is "aims to be a relaxing cafe that removes the workplace image as much as possible", incorporates the opinions of female employees and features Pay special attention to furniture and color schemes.
Special pavement was built in part of the outdoor area. Visitors can experience the comfort of walking through “comfort walking,” which uses urethane resin on the surface to reduce stress on the legs and hips, and “Mokuren,” a molded wooden block made from thin wood.
At the opening ceremony, Chairman Ishii said: ``This building was built as part of our 100th anniversary project. We hope it will also be used as a place for local elementary, middle and high school students to experience learning.'' Mayor Ando expressed his expectations, saying: ``I am delighted that the talented people who will be responsible for the future of the road industry will spread their wings from Tsuchiura City to the rest of the country.''
