JAPAN – EMBRACING OPEN BIM

The “Steel Nest” of the Japanese Sanei Construction Steel Structure Division

(c) Takenaka Corporation

Takenaka Corporation embraces OPEN BIM and Building Lifecycle Intelligence with Nemetschek Solutions

Munich/Osaka, September 12, 2022: Takenaka Corporation, one of the largest general contractors in Japan, is strongly relying on the solutions from the Nemetschek Group in building its BIM strategies to provide first class architectural, engineering, and construction services. Leveraging an open Building Lifecycle Intelligence approach with a Digital Twin, the company is creating impressive buildings and structures across the globe.

Takenaka Corporation has been committed to realizing customer dreams and shaping the world since their very beginnings, more than 400 years ago. Today, Takenaka Corporation employs more than 2,400 architects. They use solutions from the Nemetschek Group brands dRofus, Graphisoft, and Solibri to execute on their Design-to-Build BIM strategies providing end-to-end services to their clients. Takenaka Corporation maintains an enterprise agreement, providing all employees unlimited access to these software solutions for design, BIM authoring, coordination, and asset data management.

For the “Steel Nest” – the new office building for the Japanese Sanei Construction Steel Structure Division – the experts at Takenaka Corporation leveraged digital solutions and an OPEN BIM (Building Information Modeling) approach from the first design draft to construction. The customer required the building to also function as a show room illustrating their steel frame processing technology. One of Takenaka’s major challenges was combining this showroom with Sanei’s wish to create more opportunities for employees to encounter. The result is an office building that goes beyond the conventional concept of architecture, presenting an astonishing Voronoi structure (polygons of different sizes assembled).

Takenaka Corporation used Archicad from Graphisoftto create the design of the steel frames. The models were then checked for BIM quality and coordination with Solibri, ensuring that they fulfill project requirements. Due to the complexity of the structure and the individual solutions used in each phase of the project, Takenaka Corporation decided to completely rely on open interfaces and BIM. The 3D model made it easier – and quicker – to form a consensus about the design among the parties involved.

“For us, the construction of the ‘Steel Nest’ has proven that our company’s philosophy and our Integrated Design-to-Build approach works even on demanding projects with complex requirements,” says Mr. Hiroyuki Shimizu, Executive Managing Officer of Takenaka Corporation. “Looking at the entire lifecycle of buildings has always been in our DNA. With OPEN BIM and the use of Nemetschek solutions, we will be able to carry this philosophy into the digital era and become a fully data-driven company.”

“We are very proud to be working closely with the inspiring, innovative Takenaka Corporation. We share the same philosophy of leveraging data across the entire building lifecycle,” says Viktor Várkonyi, Chief Division Officer Planning & Design Division and member of the Executive Board of the Nemetschek Group. “It is great to see how Takenaka delivers outstanding results by enhancing BIM quality and the collaboration between the individual disciplines in the building process.”

The future holds many exciting projects for the industry experts: Takenaka Corporation is involved in the design and construction of various pavilions for Expo 2025 in Osaka. In addition, they are looking to expand the strategic partnership with the Nemetschek Group to also involve solutions from ALLPLAN and Bluebeam.