Shimano's New Global Headquarters 'SGH (Shimano Global Headquarters)' Designed by KOO Associates

KOO Associates Inc. (Headquarters: Nakano-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Hitoshi Kobayashi) announces the completion in December 2025 of Shimano Inc.'s (Headquarters: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture) new global headquarters building, 'SGH (Shimano Global Headquarters)', for which the company served as planner, designer, and supervisor.

The area where the new headquarters is located is the founding site that has supported Shimano's development over its 100-year history.

Over a 16-year period since the time of Ashihara Taro Architectural Office, urban environment development has gradually progressed, including facilities such as the Sakai Intelligent Plant (main factory), Technology Innovation Center (R&D center), Manufacturing Technology Center (production technology center), Team Shimano Square (employee welfare facility), West Parking Tower, North Parking (parking lots), and surrounding road improvements such as undergrounding utility poles and greening. This reflects Shimano's commitment to creating an environment that integrates its corporate philosophy and unique work culture.

The new headquarters project continues this approach, aiming to become a landmark in the urban landscape by embodying 'Shimano's worldview' and its pride in being a Japan-based, development-oriented digital manufacturing company for future generations, through architecture rooted in 'refined Japanese spatial design'.

The new headquarters serves as the central hub for global decision-making and symbolizes Team Shimano worldwide. While harmonizing with existing facilities, it features a sculptural volume with textured tiles that evoke the character of the previous headquarters built 40 years ago, designed to age gracefully over time. In addition to headquarters functions, it houses Shimano Campus—an educational and training facility dedicated to preserving Shimano's manufacturing spirit—and spaces designed for hospitality, welcoming visitors from around the world. In response, the main entrance hall integrates the surrounding environment of the historic site, features a Japanese garden on the east side, and unifies the entire building as a space embodying Japanese aesthetics, 'investment in people' (creativity and wellness), and 'resilience through seismic isolation' (disaster resilience and sustainability).

Publication Information

Details of this project are featured in the June 2026 issue of the architectural magazine 'Kindai Kenchiku' (Contemporary Architecture).

1st Floor Lobby

View overlooking the Symbol Road. Left: SGH (current project), Right: MTC

View of the Japanese garden from the piloti. The garden aims to transcend formal Japanese garden styles, instead capturing a fragment of nature.

SIP (Sakai Intelligent Plant) TSS (Team Shimano Square) MTC (Manufacturing Technology Center) TIC (Technology Innovation Center) WPT (West Parking Tower) WW (West Wing)

All projects except SGH (current project) and WPT were designed or renovated by Kobayashi during his tenure at Ashihara Taro Architectural Office. Construction of SGH, WPT, and WW was carried out by Takenaka Corporation. All other projects were constructed by Obayashi Corporation.

Photography: Noda Tokuoki / Genkisha

Photography: Hitoshi Kobayashi / KOO Associates

Project Overview

Name: Shimano New Headquarters Building (SGH) Location: Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture Completion Date: December 2025 Site Area: 18,960.1㎡ Building Area: 2,246.77㎡ Total Floor Area: 11,239.25㎡ Structure: Steel frame (seismic isolation structure), 1 basement level, 6 above-ground levels

Architectural Design: KOO Associates Inc. Structural Design: Orihara Structural Design Inc. MEP Design: Institute of Building Environment and Mechanical Systems Inc. Landscape Design: Place Media Inc.

Japanese Garden Supervision: Shinn Shin Komaizoen Construction: Takenaka Corporation

Electrical Work: Kanden Inc.

MEP Installation: Daiseikai Co., Ltd.

Designer's Comment

Hitoshi Kobayashi, Representative Director, KOO Associates Inc.

I have been involved in Shimano's architectural projects for 16 years, dating back to my time at Ashihara Taro Architectural Office.

Through numerous projects—including the main factory, Shimonoseki factory, R&D building, Singapore factory, and Bicycle Museum—I have continuously explored how to reflect the company's philosophy of 'creating devices that connect people and nature'—its 'spirit of craftsmanship' and 'philosophy of valuing people'—into physical space.

This new headquarters represents the culmination of that journey, becoming a symbolic building that connects all previous architectural works and points toward the next era.

Hitoshi Kobayashi Profile

1963: Born in Fukaya City, Saitama Prefecture

1986: Graduated from the Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering, Hosei University

Same year: Moved to the U.S., joined Nobutaka Ashihara Architect, studied under Nobutaka Ashihara

1993: Returned to Japan, joined Ashihara Taro Architectural Office

2016: Appointed Deputy Managing Director at Ashihara Taro Architectural Office

October 2021: Founded KOO Associates

June 2022: Appointed Award Committee Member, Japan Society for Seismic Engineering of Buildings

Major Design Projects

Japanese Elementary and Middle School, Greenwich, CT (USA)

Johnson Wax Kakegawa Factory Sumitomo Realty & Development Ueno No. 9 Building

Kariya General Hospital The Tower & Parks Den-en Town Mizonokuchi (Design Supervision) FUKUHARA GINZA

Shimano Main Factory (SIP, MTC, TSS)

Shimano Shimonoseki Factory (SSIP)

Shimano R&D Building (TIC)

Shimano Bicycle Museum

Shimano Singapore Factory (SSIP)

Shimano Multi-Story Parking (West Parking Tower, North Parking)

Tohoku Nitto Koki Ozasou Factory, among others.

Inquiries

KOO Associates Inc. Address: Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture (Osaka Nakanoshima Office) Email: contact@koo-assoc.com Website: https://www.koo-assoc.com/

KOO Associates Inc.

KOO Associates Inc. is an architectural design and digital consulting firm established in 2021, based in Nakanoshima, Osaka. Guided by the principle of 'gentle, strong, and interesting,' the company promotes architecture and urban development that integrates dialogue and digital technology. By forming flexible teams with experts across various fields for each project, it aims to realize sustainable social environments through collaboration beyond traditional boundaries.