Juzen Chemical Corporation, a leading contract manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients founded in 1950, has completed construction of its new headquarters building in Toyama City, Japan. The innovative office complex, designed by KEY OPERATION INC. / ARCHITECTS and completed in 2023, consolidates the company's previously scattered offices, meeting rooms, and cafeteria facilities into a single 1,885-square-meter structure.
The new headquarters is strategically located between the Jintsu River and the Fugan Canal within an industrial park setting. The building's design reflects both Toyama's natural environment and cultural heritage while creating a modern workplace that prioritizes employee well-being and community connection. Lead architect Akira Koyama worked closely with Park Corporation's design team to develop a structure that addresses operational efficiency needs while honoring local traditions.
The architectural concept emerged from extensive employee workshops involving staff members across different departments and generations. These collaborative sessions revealed the company's deeply ingrained culture of valuing spontaneous communication alongside the necessity for individual concentration spaces. The resulting design creates an environment that facilitates seamless transitions between solo work, collaborative activities, and relaxation areas.
Design inspiration drew heavily from the majestic Tateyama mountain range and the historic Kitamae trading boats that once transported medicinal ingredients from Toyama throughout the wider region. These cultural and geographical elements are woven throughout the building's aesthetic, creating a structure that feels both contemporary and rooted in local heritage.
The building site presented unique challenges and opportunities that shaped the final design. A private residence and small park occupy two corners of the block, requiring careful consideration of neighboring properties. To prevent overshadowing the adjacent home and preserve morning sunlight access, architects designed the southern façade as a clean, flat plane. This decision resulted in an L-shaped volume that embraces the neighboring park, effectively incorporating it into the workplace experience.
Flood resilience played a crucial role in the building's vertical organization, as the site lies within the Jintsu River floodplain. Principal office functions were elevated above ground level to protect against potential flooding, with the ground floor left open as a piloti structure that accommodates reception areas, a gallery showcasing company activities, and covered vehicle access.
The five-story structure demonstrates thoughtful vertical programming throughout its levels. The second floor houses office suites for major departments and a collaborative work lounge, while the third floor features a cafeteria designed for use by both office and factory staff. Executive offices, a library, employee lounge, and rooftop terrace occupy the fourth floor, with conference rooms offering panoramic views arranged on the fifth level. Vertical circulation is efficiently concentrated at the fulcrum of the L-shaped plan.
Structurally, the building employs a steel frame system with a full-glass façade and wrap-around balconies that serve dual purposes as refreshment areas and environmental buffers. Distinctive pinewood louver ceilings extend seamlessly from interior spaces to exterior eaves, concealing mechanical equipment while creating a warm, tree-canopy-like atmosphere. The louvers cast shadows reminiscent of traditional shrine roof undersides, and at night, integrated deck lighting highlights the wood patterns. Similar louvers on the piloti ceiling evoke the hull designs of historic kitamae trading boats.
Landscaping beneath the raised floors incorporates medicinal herbs and native trees, irrigated by underground alpine water that also serves the building's snow-melting systems. These green spaces connect directly with the neighboring park, creating an inviting environment for employees, local residents, and visitors alike. The wrap-around balconies and terraces enable passive climate control by providing shade during summer months, admitting beneficial low-angle winter light, and facilitating natural ventilation through prevailing breezes.
Beyond operational efficiency, the completed headquarters embodies Toyama's distinctive landscape and cultural identity while providing a workplace environment that supports collaboration, demonstrates resilience, and encourages community engagement. The project, photographed by Shigeo Ogawa, represents a successful integration of modern architectural principles with regional heritage and environmental considerations.
