World Trade Center (Tokyo)

World Trade Center Building
世界貿易センタービルディング
World Trade Center Building (Tokyo)
General information
Location	2-4-1 Hamamatsu-chō, Minato-ku Tokyo 105-6133, Japan[1]
Coordinates	35.656311°N 139.756705°E / 35.656311; 139.756705
Construction started	1964[2]
Completed	1970
Opening	March 1970
Demolished	August 2021 – March 2023
Height
Roof	162.6 meters (533 ft)
Top floor	152 meters (499 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	40 above ground 3 below ground
Floor area	153,841 m^2 (1,655,930 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Nikken Sekkei
Structural engineer	Kiyoshi Mutō
Main contractor	Kajima Construction

World Trade Center Building (世界貿易センタービルディング) was a 40-story commercial skyscraper located in Hamamatsuchō, Minato, Tokyo. Completed in 1970, the building is one of Japan's earliest skyscrapers. Upon its completion, the 163-meter-tall WTC Building took the title of Japan's tallest skyscraper from the Kasumigaseki Building; it retained this title until Keio Plaza Hotel's North Tower was completed one year later.^[3]

The building was home to World Trade Center Tokyo, a member of the World Trade Centers Association. It was primarily used for office space, but also included retail stores and restaurants. The building's top floor was a visitor observatory. The building was connected to the Toei Subways's Daimon Station and Hamamatsuchō Station, being serviced by two JR East lines and the Tokyo Monorail.

Office tenants

The building served as the headquarters of KYB Corporation, a global automotive company.^[4]

Redevelopment

Around the World Trade Center in Tokyo

In March 2013, about 3.2 hectares of "Hamamatsucho 2-chome 4 district" on the west side of Hamamatsucho station was declared by a city planning decision as a special urban regeneration district . [10] In response, the construction of five new buildings is planned, including the reconstruction of the entire area. The demolition of a 152-meter skyscraper is the largest ever.^[5][6][7][8]

In 2014, the World Trade Center Building was purchased by the Nippon Life Insurance Company, which plans to demolish the building to allow for construction of a new office building on the site.^[9]

Development was started separately for District A, District B, and District C. In District A, the South Building of the World Trade Center Building (3 floors below ground, 39 floors above ground) was completed in March 2021. The main building and bus terminal of the same building are scheduled to be completed in March 2017, a new Tokyo Monorail Hamamatsucho Station in May 2027. The B Street District Nippon Life Hamamatsucho Claire Tower (3 floors above the 29th floor underground) was completed in August 2018. A complex promoted by the Redevelopment Association (2 floors below ground, 46 floors above ground) is scheduled to be completed in December 2026 and will be constructed in District C.^[10][11][12] This building would later be called the World Trade Center North.

By the end of June 2021, the 152 metre tall building was closed prior to its demolition,^[13] the process of which commenced in August 2021 and finished in March 2023. It is now the tallest demolished building in Japan, surpassing the 138-metre Akasaka Prince Hotel (1982-2013).

See also

• List of tallest buildings and structures in Tokyo

References

1. World Trade Centers Association Accessed February 26, 2018 (includes content added at an earlier date)
2. World Trade Centers Association Accessed February 26, 2018
3. "Tokyo World Trade Center Building". Skyscraperpage.com. Retrieved 2009-10-16.
4. "Corporate Information Archived 2015-02-05 at the Wayback Machine." KYB Corporation. Retrieved on February 5, 2015.
5. "羽田への地の利で「新橋超え」も、浜松町再開発". 日本経済新聞. 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
6. "浜松町の世界貿易センタービルを解体 周辺の大規模再開発、2024年完成予定". msn産経ニュース. 2012-10-18. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
7. "世界貿易センタービルを建て替え 老朽化で、24年度完成". 47ニュース. 2012-10-18. Archived from the original on 2013-05-21. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
8. "浜松町・世界貿易センタービル、建て替えへ－都に都市計画提案提出". 新橋経済新聞. 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
9. "Nippon Life acquires site in Minato-ku for 80 billion Yen". 4 February 2014.
10. "生保マネー再び不動産へ 18年度、4年ぶり増加へ". 日本経済新聞. 2019-03-28. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
11. "浜松町二丁目地区市街地再開発組合が設立" (Press release). 鹿島建設株式会社. 2018-11-14. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
12. "浜松町二丁目地区第一種市街地再開発事業 新築工事着工のお知らせ" (PDF) (Press release). 株式会社世界貿易センタービルディング 鹿島建設株式会社 三井不動産レジデンシャル株式会社 三菱地所レジデンス株式会社. 2021-03-15. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
13. "Tokyo's World Trade Center Building closes for demolition". The Asahi Shimbun. 30 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-04.

External links

Media related to World Trade Center Building (Tokyo) at Wikimedia Commons

• WTC Building official site

Records
Preceded by Kasumigaseki Building	Tallest building in Japan 163 m (533 ft) 1970–1971	Succeeded by Keio Plaza Hotel North Tower
	Tallest building in Tokyo 163 m (533 ft) 1970–1971