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Itoki supports HBA headquarters renovation as a practical model for local companies to create "offices where people want to work and continue working"
Co-creating a workplace that incorporates Hokkaido's unique characteristics and supports the recruitment and retention of DX talent
ITOKI CORPORATION (headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Koji Minato) served as a design partner to HBA Corporation (headquarters: Sapporo, Hokkaido; President and CEO: Kazuo Shirahata), a comprehensive IT solutions company, for the complete renovation of its head office, providing support for the planning, design, and construction of common areas. This project is an initiative to address the social issue of securing and developing DX talent in regional areas, and aims to create an environment where employees feel they want to work and continue working.
Supporting the challenges of recruiting and retaining DX talent in local areas from the office
Japan's working-age population continues to decline, making the recruitment and retention of highly skilled DX talent, especially in regional areas, a pressing issue for corporate management.*1, 2 HBA has been incorporating the perspective of human capital management from an early stage, and has been working to create an environment where employees can work with peace of mind while also improving productivity.
Our company was responsible for the spatial composition, traffic flow design, and material selection, focusing on common areas, for four floors of HBA's eight-story headquarters building. Based on the office concept of "a base for all employees," we placed importance on harmony with nature and used locally produced materials such as "Ebetsu bricks," "Sapporo soft stone," and "Hokkaido wood." Taking advantage of the external environment brimming with greenery, we created a warm interior that is comfortable and increases motivation to come to work. The space conveys the brand's worldview not only to employees but also to visitors.
Creating the perfect space for employees to improve their skills
A symbolic area is the multi-purpose space "Synora." It was designed as a place that can be used for a variety of purposes, including events, cafes, and workshops, and is fully equipped with the latest AV equipment, including a coffee machine, large screen, and sound system, which are provided as part of employee benefits. It is also used as a base for engineers' presentations, industry-academia collaboration events, and in-house club activities, including e-sports, and functions as both a skill development and team building space.
The renovation of HBA's headquarters is the third step in our human capital investment, following the Shinagawa Collaboration Office in 2023 and the Sousei Innovative Office in 2024. As a symbol of the HBA brand, which is spreading from the region to the whole country, it has become a new model case for DX human resource strategies in regional companies.
Synora: A multipurpose space that utilizes materials typical of Hokkaido
In our case, office investment has actually led to increased recruitment*3, and a survey of 5,000 people showed that the more the space supports activity, the more productivity and creativity people feel.*4 Going forward, we will continue to focus on regional areas with strong issues and support office investment from the perspective of attracting and retaining talent.
*1: Cabinet Office Regional Future Working Group "Medium- to Long-term Regional Issues and Directions for Response" https://www5.cao.go.jp/keizai-shimon/kaigi/special/future/1017/shiryou_01_3.pdf
*2: Information Technology Promotion Agency "IPA DX Trends 2025"
https://www.ipa.go.jp/digital/chousa/dx-trend/tbl5kb0000001mn2-att/dx-trend-2025.pdf
*3: ITOKI CORPORATION See page 52 of the "Integrated Report 2025" PDF https://www.itoki.jp/company/ir/accounts/anual/assets/pdf/accounts_annual_2025_00.pdf
*4: Itoki Survey "FY2023 Business Japan Business workers Work Style Survey of 5,000 People"
Implementation period: September 2023
Survey method: Internet survey
Survey target: 5,000 white-collar workers working in Japan
Regional characteristics: Urban: Rural = 50.9%: 49.1%
*Urban areas include Tokyo's 23 wards and major cities (Sapporo City, Sendai City, Saitama City, Yokohama City, Kawasaki City, Nagoya City, Kyoto City, Osaka City, Kobe City, Hiroshima City, Fukuoka City)
About Itoki's Workplace Business
ITOKI CORPORATION was founded in 1890. With the mission statement of "We Design Tomorrow. We Design WORK-Style." the company supports the creation of a variety of "spaces," "environments," and "places" by leveraging its strengths of "Tech x Design based on PEOPLE," including the manufacture and sale of office furniture, office space design, “Space," “Environment," and “Place" consulting, and office data analysis services, as well as furniture for working from home and studying at home, and equipment for public facilities and logistics facilities.
As hybrid work becomes more common and places and ways of working become more diverse, we are developing spatial digital transformation to enhance productivity and creativity, as well as consulting services to support optimal office operations. We are also proactively collaborating with external designers and partner companies to propose new work styles and workplaces for the future.
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ITOKI CORPORATION
Corporate Communications Division, Public Relations Section
TEL:03-6910-3910
- The information posted is current at the time of publication. Please note that the information may differ from the latest information.