Konica Minolta’s Innovation Garden OSAKA Center Receives the Governor of Osaka Award, the Highest Honor, in the Osaka Environmentally Friendly Architecture Award

1. Eco-friendly

In designing new office and research buildings, Konica Minolta focuses on minimizing CO2 emissions during both construction and operation of the buildings and equipment used in them.

At IGOC, high-efficiency heat-insulation sandwich panels are applied on the exterior walls on the south side of the building to enhance cooling efficiency during summer, while long eaves on the north and west sides block out the sunshine and make the indoor space less affected by the outdoor temperature.

IGOC also makes effective use of natural resources such as natural light and ventilation. The natural vents on the roof skylight and first floor automatically open and close according to the outdoor and indoor temperatures, increasing the efficiency of natural ventilation.

The staircase landing areas where there are benches and other places that encourage communication are lit by an energy-saving lighting system that detects moving people and automatically increases the brightness when someone is present and decreases it when no one is there.

With these systems and various other innovative design features, the IGOC building is highly environment-friendly, comfortable and energy-efficient, and was therefore given the highest “S” rank in the Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE) instituted by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

In addition to its environment-friendliness, IGOC is highly evaluated for its comfortable and functional office environment, winning the 34th Nikkei New Office Award of Nikkei Inc. and the New Office Promotion Association.

2. Good health and intellectual productivity

Designed to stimulate the creation of ideas, friendly interactions, corporate identity communication, and good health, IGOC offers a healthy workplace environment that motivates employees in their work and encourages them to create new value through interactions with people, both within and outside the company.

IGOC has an athletic ground, multi-purpose courts and shower rooms, which entice employees to do sports during break time and thus help them stay healthy. Meanwhile, meeting rooms and offices have many open spaces where employees can feel connected with the outdoors, positively influencing their mental well-being. Employees may choose to work on the outdoor deck and eat at the garden café on the deck.