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SB Technology completely renovates Shinjuku headquarters

- Increasing the number of areas for communication and collaboration, aiming to foster spontaneous encounters between people and innovation beyond departmental boundaries -


SB Technology Corp.

SB Technology Corp. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Shinichi Ata; hereinafter referred to as SBT) is pleased to announce that it has completely renovated its Shinjuku office (headquarters) in August 2024.

SBT 's vision is to "generating New Value to the World by Leading Technologies and Creativeness with Style and Opportunity-full Culture." To embody this vision, the office has been reconstructed to suit current work styles.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, SBT introduced a system that allows employees to freely choose between teleworking and office work as a way to diversify their workstyles. We have changed the way we work so that each employee can achieve their ideal work-life balance. We have redefined the role of the office from simply having a desk and working to being a place for "communication" and "innovation." By significantly expanding the areas where internal communication and collaboration that transcend departmental boundaries can be realized, we aim to create serendipitous encounters between people and innovation.

<Shinjuku Head Office Special Site>
https://www.softbanktech.co.jp/corp/about/access/shinjuku-office/

■ Background of the office renewal

SBT moved to its current office in February 2014. At the time, the office required employees to come into the office, but in 2018, teleworking was introduced company-wide, with the aim of achieving an ideal work-life balance for each individual, eliminating long working hours, and improving productivity. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the company introduced a hybrid work style that combines office work and teleworking, and sought an environment where smooth communication could be achieved.
In a survey of employees about offices conducted in 2022, responses included "creative meetings," "team building," "internal social gatherings," and "communication such as chatting" as activities they would like to carry out in office work (face-to-face). In addition, responses included "an environment where you can hold web conferences without worrying about those around you," "a health-conscious environment where you can work while standing and refresh yourself," "a project room," and "an environment where you can concentrate." Based on this, we defined the role of the office as a place to generate "communication" and "innovation," and we have completely renovated the office with the aim of creating an office where people can meet by chance across departmental boundaries, realize diverse collaborations, and allow employees to choose the optimal environment for themselves depending on their work content.
The Shinjuku office has also introduced a free address system for the first time. Furthermore, we have reviewed areas of the office that are underutilized and have now created new areas and facilities. We have created an environment where employees can flexibly choose where to work, such as concentration booths and cafe spaces, in order to improve work efficiency and productivity.

■ Details of the renewal

<Work area>

The Shinjuku office, where approximately 1,000 employees work, has a floor area of approximately 1,800 tsubo (6,000 m2), and the work areas have no dividing walls, giving them a spacious and open feel. The renovated work areas consist of three newly constructed areas and the regular office space. All of the corridors and desks are designed with curved lines in mind to stimulate communication.

Work Area
The "Green Belt" space, designed to connect the perimeter of the work areas and each area, is designed to give the impression that the greenery around the building has permeated the office, with plants placed everywhere, allowing you to feel nature even while indoors. It also serves as a starting point for inducing contact and communication between people.
Photo of work area
(Top left) The unique curved tables make it easy for employees to see each other's faces, encouraging new interactions. (Top right) The layout has almost no walls, allowing for a long-distance view. The open address system allows employees to choose their preferred desk to work at. (Bottom left) The flower table located at the intersection of the green belts allows for casual conversation. (Bottom right) There are several work spaces by the windows on the 17th floor, offering a panoramic view of Shinjuku.

<Creating a comfortable working environment>

Based on the results of employee surveys and executive interviews, the new office is equipped with facilities such as phone booths and concentration booths to accommodate hybrid work. In addition, a convenience store and service counter have been newly installed in the office to make employees' time in the office more comfortable.

Photo of work area
(Top left) A new phone booth was installed in response to employee feedback. (Top right) A concentration booth has been installed for employees who want to concentrate on their work alone. It uses a curved display, allowing employees to multitask comfortably and work more efficiently. (Bottom left) A service counter has been installed as a consultation point for when employees have problems in the office, such as with equipment management or rental items. (Bottom right) A new unmanned convenience store, "SBT market," has been opened within the office. Food, drinks, and miscellaneous goods are available for sale at all times, and bento boxes and bread are lined up at the entrance of the store during lunchtime.

<New Area>

The new office has three new areas with different functions. The "Innovation Area" allows cross-departmental teams to hold creative discussions, and the "Wellness Area" is a space surrounded by plants where employees can refresh themselves and do some light exercise. The "Café/Event Area" is equipped with an unmanned convenience store and coffee machines, allowing employees to refresh themselves between work and socialize with each other. It is also expected to be used for internal and external events, and aims to be a place that creates opportunities for interaction not only with employees but also with a diverse range of people.

・Innovation Area

Innovation Area Photos
This area, created by the window, can be used for multiple purposes, such as changing your mood by changing your line of sight through the use of different steps, and generating ideas. By utilizing movable curtains, desks, chairs, whiteboards, and displays, the layout can be freely changed.

・Wellness area

Wellness area photo
With an emphasis on wellbeing, the space uses lots of greenery to allow employees to relax naturally. It also has exercise bikes, monkey bars and other training tools so employees can refresh themselves between work.

・Cafe/event area

Photos of the cafe and event area
A multi-purpose café with a stone-paved floor, antique lights, and greenery that makes you feel like you're outdoors, even while in the office. It can be used for a wide range of purposes, not only as a place to refresh yourself between work and interact with other employees, but also as a place for open communication, such as for internal and external events.

<Conference room>

We have set up a conference room equipped with equipment suitable for web conferencing (monitors, cameras, microphones, speakers) to accommodate meetings with both in-person and online participants.

Meeting room photo
The design makes it easy for online participants to see the faces of in-person participants, and for in-person participants to see the display easily.

<Art Wall>

As a symbol of the new office, we installed art by mural art company OVER ALLs Inc. The words "challenge," "exploration," "development," and "enjoyment," which represent the way we work, are combined with the images of "team," "collaboration," and "mutual help" that are cultivated in the workplace to dynamically express the image of rushing toward the future.

Art Wall Photos
A mural painted near the entrance to the workspace so employees can see it when they start work.

・OVER ALLs Co., Ltd.
A mural artist company that creates more than 40 works per year. Founded in 2016 by representative Taketo Akazawa and painter Yuki Yamamoto. Aiming to "transform people into artists through the power of murals," they highlight the messages that companies want to convey to society, and even the messages that individuals who work in organizations have sent their way, and express them in the form of murals.
http://www.overalls.jp/

Going forward, we will continue to consider soft-side measures to ensure that we can make the most of the office space we have built.
In addition, SBT will continue to develop an environment in which employees can take on diverse working styles in response to changes in working styles.

Contact information regarding this press release

● SB Technology Corp. Public Relations Department
E-mail: sbt-press@tech.softbank.co.jp