A project to design a new customer contact point in the common area of NTT East's headquarters building, 30 years after its completion. With the spread of the coronavirus around the world, office floors and common meeting rooms with just a row of desks and chairs were being used much less frequently, and there was a need for a new way to utilize the space in the coming years. The goal was to create a new place for communication between the company's own employees and clients by utilizing vacant office space and expanding on existing space uses.

The new communication center was not only a change of use, but also a wellbeing space designed to make people want to work in the office by adding cutting-edge sustainable materials, space variability and communication design in line with the needs of the times, and sensory materials with light and touch.

On the first floor, we designed an open space with a stage, wall fixtures, and curtains around the conference room wall, which was an extension of the lobby. The floor is made of 100% recycled flooring material, including backing material. Around the windows, 15-meter gradient curtains were used to create the space while allowing light in.

Original furnishings include curved bench objects made of artificial marble, layered shape pendant lights, and gradient curtains. In addition, archival interactive signage is placed so that communication starts from the waiting time. The closed communication that used to take place inside the conference room has been opened up. The interior of the conference room is also staged with original materials that resemble wood tiles affixed in a traditional pattern.

On the second floor, a flexible space was designed to fit the needs of the future. The lobby on the second floor, which connects to the offices and MTG rooms, welcomes clients with a calm impression that matches the outside light environment while creating brightness and spaciousness with the color of the floor.

The multi-purpose room, where lively communication takes place, is a variable platform space that can be connected not only face-to-face but also online within and outside the company. The room can be used for a variety of purposes, including free space with no furniture, group meetings, online meetings seamlessly connected to a large conference screen, and an online distribution space for recording and distributing video.

Here, too, the floor is made of 100% recycled material with embedded guide chips, and the counter is made of reclaimed wood. The goal is to create a comfortable space while incorporating sustainable materials into the space.

As a result, business communication has become more active in the office, and the occupancy rate has increased significantly. The space has shifted from a traditional desk and conference room environment to one that encourages ideas about how the space can be utilized, and plans for further expansion are currently underway.