Section 1. Creating New Urban Spaces

The groundbreaking ceremony took place on March 1, 1995, and the frame-raising ceremony was on July 10, 1996. The Yodoyabashi Daibiru Building, completed on February 24, 1997, had 14 aboveground floors, two underground floors, and total floor area of 11, 273 m². It was completed despite the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which struck on January 17, 1995. This accomplishment was noted during the completion celebration party, and Daibiru emphasized that every precaution had been taken to ensure that its buildings were earthquake-resistance ever since the company was founded.

As with the Kita-Umeda Daibiru Building, an integrated design system was utilized in the Yodoyabashi Daibiru Building’s design. The building footprint of 689 m² amounted to 47.2% of the property, which was 1,458 m² in size with the Semba setback area excluded. The remaining space was kept as open public space. The exterior was clad in precast concrete panels with Argentinian granite veneer. These materials, combined with a subdued gray coloration, gave the building a prestigious look. The office spaces were designed as flexible, column-free spaces that could accommodate any layout.

After completion, the building was leased in its entirety to be used as the Osaka head office of Sumitomo Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (now Mitsui Sumitomo Marine & Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.).