Office(Companies/Organizations) Eductation
Posted: 2025/11/06

Osaka Municipal University Innovation Academy Smart Energy Building

Osaka Municipal University Innovation Academy Smart Energy BuildingOsaka Municipal University Innovation Academy Smart Energy Building
address Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture
Completion date

March 2025

scale Total floor area 2,893㎡
Main construction details Construction management, layout design, interior design, furniture, AV/ICT
  • The above information is at the time of completion.

Accelerating open innovation through space and ICT design
Industry-academia-government-private living lab facility

Osaka Metropolitan University, which opened in April 2022 through the merger of Osaka City University and Osaka Prefecture University, is promoting the Innovation Academy project, which utilizes its strengths in a wide range of research fields in collaboration with industry, academia, government and the private sector to contribute to regional development and the resolution of social issues.
The university will open a new building on its Nakamozu campus in April 2025.
It is a living lab facility for industry, academia, government and the public that encourages the exchange of diverse knowledge through its interactive space and ICT design, and promotes collaborative research with companies and the creation of startups.
Exterior

Exterior

Exterior

Exterior

Nakamozu Campus Smart Energy Building.
A co-creation hub where people from both inside and outside the university can freely interact.

Workshop Area

Workshop Area

Workshop Area

Workshop Area

The workshop area is located on the base floor. Movable furniture is used to encourage active activities. The ICT environment has the same specifications as the other campuses, making online exchanges easy.

Cafe area "Horiba Shinkichi Square"

Cafe area

Cafe area "Horiba Shinkichi Square"

Cafe area

A variety of seating is arranged in a three-dimensional manner to encourage natural interaction.

Step Work Area

Step Work Area

Step Work Area

Step Work Area

The step seats planned in the architecture are used as co-working spaces. The furniture is designed with safety in mind to enhance comfort. The central lighting expresses the design concept of "weaving," and serves as an accent for the space.

Stage Area

Stage Area

Stage Area

Stage Area

The stage area in front of the large LED display. Relax and enjoy a relaxed posture, supporting the flexible creation of ideas. During lectures and speeches, the area becomes an audience seating area. The seats are one step lower, making it easier to concentrate on the stage.

Stage Area

Stage Area

Stage Area

Stage Area

The large monitor is sized and positioned to be easily visible from the incubation area on the second floor. Participants can also participate in events by turning the ceiling-hanging pendant speakers on and off.

Smart and interactive ICT environment

Smart and interactive ICT environment

Smart and interactive ICT environment

Smart and interactive ICT environment

The stage area on the first floor, equipped with a 325-inch high-definition LED display, is a space that symbolizes the Smart Energy Building, condensing all the elements that the facility aims to realize, such as lectures, workshops, and remote classes. Since its opening, it has been actively used by companies and university-related parties. The system configuration is tailored to the characteristics of the facility, making it easy for speakers to speak and easy for both real-life and online viewers to see and hear.
<Configuration of major equipment>
325-inch large LED display, 65-inch touch display, AV operation console (touch panel system, line array speakers (L/R), pendant speakers, ceiling-mounted camera/stand-by camera (AI function-equipped with automatic tracking)

Incubation Area

Incubation Area

Incubation Area

Incubation Area

The incubation area on the second floor faces the atrium. It provides a good balance between office space and social space.

Open Lab

Open Lab

Open Lab

Open Lab

An open lab equipped with a large table and meeting booths. A calm interior space that encourages interaction between partner companies.

User's Voice

Osaka Municipal University
Rie Wakagi, Industry-Academia-Government-Private Collaboration Promotion Office

Itoki involved many staff members in this project, including designers and the AV/ICT team. Although the schedule was tight, with the construction and interior design progressing simultaneously, they took advantage of Advantage of this simultaneous approach and worked powerfully and sensitively, adjusting the division of roles with the architecture and construction companies. The completed facility is being actively used by many students and others. In addition, co-creation partner companies are increasingly moving into the rental lab, and we hope that this facility will serve as a base for further co-creation with companies.
Going forward, we will expand the model of our efforts at the Nakamozu Campus horizontally, aiming to build a university-wide "network-based innovation ecosystem."

Comment

Designer

Chika Yashima

Chika Yajima

Designer

Yumi Takano

Yumi Takano

Designer

Kaho Saito

Kaho Saitoh

The design envisions a vibrant facility that will act as a living lab for industry, academia, government and the public, where many students and partners can thrive and work.
In addition to creating a space that encourages co-creation, we also believe it is important to increase the number of fans and repeat visitors to the facility, so our plans incorporate considerations such as diversity, safety, and user-friendliness to ensure that everyone can use the facility comfortably.
We hope that this will lead to many exchanges and co-creations, solving various social issues and creating a new society.

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