Obayashi Techno Research Institute

Strategy & Services: The Obayashi Technical Research Institute (TRI) Techno Station in Tokyo is an R&D facility for innovative building designs and technologies, which are tested at the facility for potential implementation in Obayashi’s global construction projects. Working in collaboration with Webcor Builders, stok helped the TRI achieve 95 points, the highest LEED score ever awarded to a building in Japan and the third-highest LEED score in the world under the LEED EBOM v2009 rating system.

Design Details: Webcor contracted stok to assess the building’s performance through an ASHRAE Level II energy audit, provide a cost / benefit analysis for energy efficiency upgrades, and formalize an ongoing retrocommissioning (RCx) process for Obayashi to continue optimizing the building’s performance over time. Webcor and stok also led training for the Obayashi team on the LEED rating system, ongoing commissioning, and occupancy comfort testing, demonstrating how Obayashi can continuously fine tune the Institute’s performance. The building features ample sustainable design strategies and technologies, including a peri-buffer system that establishes a thermal buffer zone around windows that reduces air conditioning loads in low occupancy building zones; task / ambient lighting / air-conditioning that allows employees to set their own levels, and uses IC tags to only operate when employees are present; slanted roof panels with ventilation slits that allow for natural daylighting, ventilation, and temperature control; solar panels that generate enough energy for nighttime workspace lighting; a natural ventilation displacement system that utilizes temperature and CO2 sensors to activate floor vents; and a hybrid heat pump system that captures both geothermal and well water heat.

 

Outcome: Obayashi’s TRI currently holds the third highest LEED EBOM score in the world – out of over 6,000 registered projects globally – and also scored one of the highest ratings ever achieved in Japan’s Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency (CASBEE) green building rating system. With the training from Webcor and stok, the Obayashi team continues to identify areas for improvement in operations, continuously enhancing the TRI’s performance.