full Annual Report 2006 (PDF 3.2MB)

AkihabaFeature ArticleStrengthOur StrengthFeature Article 1: Akihabara Crossfield1: Akihabara CrossfieldKajima Leads Development of a New Type of IT Facility Where People and Information IntersectAkihabara Crossfield was established in Akihabara (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), internationally known as “Electric Town,” aplace to find cutting-edge multimedia and other technology. Kajima, along with two partner companies, developedthe project from start to finish, handling everything from design and construction to management and operation.Drawing on its technical abilities and collective strength, Kajima took the initiative in proposing a development solutionincorporating both hardware and software in the heart of the city, helping to establish a new business model.So what exactly is Akihabara Crossfield?6An Important Transportation HubAkihabara lies approximately two kilometers north of TokyoStation, practically in the center of Tokyo. It is a major transportationhub, with access by six railway and subway linesfrom three stations. The starting point for the new TsukubaExpress, opened in August 2005, it provides a 45-minutelink between Tokyo and Tsukuba Science City, a concentrationof a wide range of research centers.The Akihabara BrandAkihabara Crossfield is at the northern end of JR AkihabaraStation, situated on a 1.57-hectare area of land on the westside of the Japan Railway (JR) Yamanote Line. The mainbuildings in the complex are the Akihabara Daibiru Building(31 stories) completed in March 2005, and the AkihabaraUDX Building (22 stories) completed in March 2006. Theorigin of the project is “Tokyo Plan 2000,” part of the Tokyogovernment's plan to create a global center for the IT industryin Akihabara, taking advantage of the district's uniquecharacteristics. As part of this project, the former site of theKanda produce market and national railway (Akihabarafreight yard) was redeveloped.The concept for the project was “crossing of peopleand information,” providing collaboration between industryand academia, an information network, and visitordrawing power.Collaboration of Industry and AcademiaAkihabara Daibiru Building contains 16 organizations andinstitutes for collaboration between industry and academia.All of the tenants were selected for their “creation of the ITindustry,” and include such institutions as the University ofTokyo, the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Scienceand Technology (AIST), the University of Tsukuba, and theJapan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA).The University of Tokyo Graduate School of InformationScience and Technology has established its CreativeAkihabara Daibiru