Corporate History

  • 1904
    Osaka Prefectural Nakanoshima Library (Osaka, Japan)
    NS was established during Meiji Era, during which the architectural style was largely influenced by Neo Classic Western-style Architecture.
  • 1930
    Sumitomo Building Osaka (Osaka, Japan)
    In thirties Japan was still largely influenced by Europen modernism movement in architecture. Nikken Sekkei's design for Sumitomo Buildings captures that spirit.
  • 1958
    Tokyo Tower (Tokyo, Japan)
    To create a monument to symbolize Japan's rising economic strength, and satisfy the demand for a broadcasting tower Nippon Television City Corp appointed NS to design Tokyo Tower.
  • 1962
    Nippon Life Insurance Company Headquarters (Osaka, Japan)
    In sixties, Nikken Sekkei was one of the most sought after consultants in Japan to design headquarters and office buildings.
  • 1966
    Palaceside Building (Tokyo, Japan)
    Palaceside Building, is another important milestone in the history of Nikken Sekkei's architecture, representing timeless architecture spirit.
  • 1985-88
    Korea World Trade Center (Seoul, Korea)
    Late eighties, Nikken Sekkei expanded its boundaries to design major projects in Asia.
  • 1988
    Tokyo Dome (Tokyo, Japan)
    Tokyo Dome Corporation selected Nikken Sekkei to design the one of the largest air pressurized structures in Japan. Tokyo dome is known to be the largest concert hall in Japan, where Michael Jackson, Madonna, Marieh Cary and alike performed their shows.
  • 1991, 1997
    Pacifico Yokohama & Queen’s Square Yokohama (Kanagawa, Japan)
    As economy expanded, so did the the scale of Nikken Sekkei projects. In early nineties, Nikken Sekkei was in charge of master planning and design of large developments and cities through major cities of Japan.
  • 1993
    Islamic Development Bank (Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
    In nineties, Nikken Sekkei kept expanding its boundaries to design projects in the Middle east and North Africa.
  • 2005
    Central International Airport (Aichi, Japan)
    Most of major airports were designed by Nikken Sekkei in collaboration with local and international experts.
  • 2005
    State Guest House in Kyoto (Kyoto, Japan)
    Nikken Sekkei is very proud to be awarded the design of the State Guest House in Kyoto.
  • 2012
    Tokyo Sky Tree (Tokyo, Japan)
    Sky tree symbolizes new horizons for Nikken Sekkei. Expected to be the highest structure in Tokyo in 2012. On 29 March 2010 the tower became the tallest structure in Japan, reaching 338 m

At the turn of the 20th Century, as modernism was entering the realm of architectural thought, a small company of 29 visionary architects, designers and engineers was formed to construct a new library in Osaka. The wide critical acclaim the structure received resulted in continuance of the firm. Now, with over 2,500 employees and projects in 40 countries, Nikken Sekkei enjoys the distinction of being amongst the largest — and to many, the most successful — architectural design firms in the world.

Our innovation was to become legendary. By the 1930’s, we had instituted a prototype for a design review system, later evolving into our “Design Process Innovation” which aims to enhance collective creative thinking. In 1964, we were the first firm in Japan to use computers in architectural design.

Our projects have had an immense impact on the urban skyline, especially in the Pacific Rim where our presence has been most strongly felt since the beginning of the 21st Century. Over the years we have expanded operations to cover a wide range of architectural types and topologies, ranging from design of commercial, industrial and cultural facilities to policy planning on urban development and conceptualization of tomorrow’s green cites. This diversity has become one of our core strengths, instilling within us the confidence to meet any architectural challenge while engendering flexibility to stay abreast of a changing society.