Construction Work Begins in Earnest for "Kobe City Hall Building No. 2 Redevelopment Project"

A consortium composed of ORIX Real Estate Corporation (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Tatsuya Kitamura) as the representative company, Hankyu Hanshin Properties Corp., Kanden Real Estate Development Co., Ltd., Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., Fuyo General Lease Co., Ltd., Takenaka Corporation, and Yasuda Real Estate Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Consortium") is pleased to announce the commencement of construction work in earnest for the "Kobe City Hall Building No. 2 Redevelopment Project" (Note 1).

Exterior Image Perspective (Note 2)

This project (Note 3) aims to redevelop Kobe City Hall Building No. 2, which has exceeded 60 years since its construction and is showing signs of aging, by rebuilding it utilizing the expertise of private businesses. It also seeks to leverage its location between the Sannomiya Station area and the waterfront area to create vibrancy and promote inbound and outbound tourism and exchange. In addition to the full-scale commencement of construction, the opening of "Conrad Hotels & Resorts" (hereinafter referred to as "Conrad"), Hilton's luxury brand making its first entry into Hyogo Prefecture, has been decided for the upper floors.

In collaboration with Kobe City, the Consortium will continue to foster connections with the world, society, and the region (Connect), working towards "creating an exchange and creation hub that drives Kobe's future."

Note 1: Release dated August 31, 2022: "Selected as the developer for the 'Kobe City Hall Building No. 2 Redevelopment Project' through public tender."

Note 2: All image perspectives used in this press release are current as of this date and may be subject to change in the future.

Note 3: Source: Kobe City "Redevelopment of City Hall Building No. 2"

■ Features of This Project

1. Revitalization Between Sannomiya Station Area and Waterfront Area

(1) Improving Connectivity in the Surrounding Area

The facility is located at an intermediate point connecting the bustling Sannomiya Station area with the former foreign settlement and the redeveloping waterfront area. Leveraging this characteristic, it will introduce public functions that foster new encounters and communities, as well as private-driven functions for attracting visitors and creating vibrancy, disseminating Kobe's charm both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, by ensuring smooth connections with underground passages and providing through-routes within the facility, it will contribute to improving the walkability and connectivity of Kobe.

(2) Creating Accessible Spaces

The lower floors will feature a "(Tentative Name) Citizen Use Space" available for public use. This space will be designed to allow for various uses such as events, relaxation, and interaction, while evoking the warmth of wood and the comfort of greenery, characteristic of Kobe, a region rich in forest resources. Additionally, open spaces such as the bright and open front entrance area and a sunken garden (semi-underground plaza) will be developed, providing accessible spots for citizens and visitors to casually drop by.

Left: (Tentative Name) Citizen Use Space, Right: Front Entrance Area (Image)

2. Overall Building and Each Function

Functions to Promote Visitor Attraction and Exchange (Image)

The lower part of the building will integrate city hall functions with commercial facilities and a rooftop garden, creating a space where visitors can enjoy various activities while staying and moving around.

The upper floors will feature "Conrad," Hilton's luxury brand, and high-grade offices. A conference facility equipped with a hotel ballroom and various meeting rooms of different sizes will be established on the 4th floor to foster business exchange opportunities.

(1) Hotel

"Conrad," Hilton's luxury brand, will open on the 4th floor and the upper 20th to 28th floors, marking its first presence in Hyogo Prefecture. ORIX Real Estate Corporation, the lead company for the hotel business in this project, and Hilton have recently signed an operating agreement, and the hotel name has been decided as "Conrad Kobe." The opening is scheduled for 2030.

"Conrad Kobe" is planned to feature 136 guest rooms, primarily 50 sqm in size, along with a lounge, restaurants, bar, fitness center, spa, pool, and approximately 500 sqm of ballroom space and multi-purpose meeting spaces to accommodate banquets and conferences.

Left: Reception Lobby, Right: Ballroom (Image)

About Conrad Hotels & Resorts:

Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton's luxury brand, currently operates 50 hotels across five continents. Through intuitive service and locally-rooted experiences, it stimulates guests' curiosity. The brand offers opportunities to experience the local culture and charm and foster deeper connections through its signature program, "Conrad 1/3/5" (Note 4). The spaces, adorned with carefully selected contemporary art, inspire guests.

Note 4: "Conrad Hotels & Resorts Renews 'Conrad 1/3/5' Program to Create Meaningful Travel Experiences" | Hilton Press Release

(2) Office

High-grade offices will be developed with one of the largest floor plate sizes in Kobe City, approximately 500 tsubo (approx. 1,680 sqm) per floor. These offices can be flexibly utilized according to companies' needs, from full-floor leases to divisions as small as approximately 45 tsubo (approx. 150 sqm). Additionally, facing the rooftop garden on the 9th floor, an exclusive lounge for office workers will be established, usable for breaks and as a third place, supporting office workers and promoting inter-company exchange.

9th Floor Office Worker Lounge (Image)

(3) Commercial

On the first and second floors facing Flower Road, and the basement floor connected to Sanchika and the subway Kaigan Line's Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station, three floors will house diverse and unique dining, retail, and service establishments that showcase the region's charm. By developing an open sunken garden connecting the ground and underground levels, the project aims to enhance the walkability of Kobe and create vibrancy.

Commercial Facilities Facing the Sunken Garden (Image)

(4) City Hall

To foster communication and flexibly adapt to changing times, an open, partition-free workspace will be provided. Furthermore, soundproofed meeting rooms and internal stairs to facilitate inter-floor communication will be installed, creating a productive and comfortable working environment for staff. In terms of environmental performance, the city hall section will achieve "ZEB Oriented" standards and obtain BELS certification (a third-party certification system for building energy efficiency).

Open Workspace (Image)

3. A Landmark with Excellent Environmental and Disaster Prevention Features, Symbolizing the City Hall Area

(1) Nightscape Symbolizing a Port City

With an image of a sophisticated, Kobe-like exterior that connects the sea and mountains and harmonizes with the surrounding landscape, the upper floors housing the hotel will feature a distinctive design with a glass box at the top, while the lower floors housing city hall functions will have a design intentionally incorporating a horizontal motif inherited from the former Building No. 2. At night, the high-ceilinged hotel lobby space will be illuminated, serving as a landmark that evokes the port city of Kobe even from afar, like a lighthouse.

Nighttime Exterior View (Image)

(2) Proactive Initiatives for Environment and Disaster Prevention

In terms of the environment, in addition to obtaining BELS certification for the city hall section, the entire building