古河AS株式会社

 

Welcome to FAS! An Invitation to a Walk Through the Campus

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The sleekly modern FAS Building was constructed in such a way as to preserve the view of the east shore of Lake Biwa and bright green rice fields looking out toward the Suzuka Mountains. Straight ahead as soon as one alights at Amago Station on the Ohmi Railway Main Line, FAS head office is a landmark amid the spreading natural scenery.

Let’s make our way toward the main gate.

As soon as we enter the main gate with its guard post, we see a signboard to one side.
Let’s move a little closer.

During the construction of the company buildings, some ancient ruins were unearthed. We hear the archeological survey that resulted was a major undertaking.
Here we take you on a tour of the Nagabatake Ruins.
Based on the ages of the excavated articles, the site appears to date from the late Nara to early Heian period (late 8th century to early 9th century CE). It’s amazing to think that so many people were active in this area so long ago, isn’t it?

Now let’s proceed a little further…

Catching the eye with its bright red Torii gate is this tiny little shrine. Its name is Suehiro Daimyojin but its details are a mystery. It is said that the shrine was here when some of FAS’ senior employees joined the Company, so it must have been here a very long time. One day a student visiting on his job search took an interest in the shrine and offered a prayer. A security guard noticed the visitor and laughed, saying, “I think you’ll get the job!” And not long after that, he did. Perhaps this episode shows that it pays to pay homage to the shrine. Perhaps Suehiro Daimyojin is one of the great wonders of FAS.

 

The parking lot in front of the front entrance to the main building is equipped with an EV charging station. EV drivers can visit FAS head office with confidence.

A little further along we come to the front entrance of the main building. Beside it is a planter. Do you recognize the plant that’s growing in it?
The plant is nodding Anemone (Anemone cernua), a Class II endangered plant species. In July 2020, as part of efforts to support biodiversity, an employee team started growing nodding anemone, a Class II endangered plant species. The employees took great care to ensure that the plant would survive the Shiga winter and in spring of 2021 it bloomed with no problems! Nodding Anemone only blooms in April and May, so you are lucky if you see it.

Now, with the main gate behind us, we arrive at the main building on the right.

The combination of white latticework and Shigaraki-ware bricks is striking, isn’t it? The textured flooring is made of river gravel from the Echigawa River.

Now it’s time to go inside the building.

The moment we enter, we see the reception area where guests are welcomed and the glass-walled exhibition gallery.

Sitting shoulder to shoulder are An-chan and Ken-chan, FAS’s unofficial (official? tacit?) mascots. Inspired by an employee drawing, the characters are used in Company newsletters and similar materials. Even today FAS employees draw them. Their names derive from the Company’s two highest priorities, safety (Anzen in Japanese) and health (Kenko). One day they might even be promoted to official FAS characters.

 

This bright, naturally lit gallery is a space where visitors to FAS head office can see, touch and experience the technologies and products that are the pride of FAS. Using the touch panels on the walls and some of the exhibition stages, you can view the information that interests you most at your own pace. At the “frame car” in front of reception, use the iPad to experience an augmented-reality (AR) presentation of the products as installed in vehicles.

 

Now let’s move on to the second floor. After ascending the stairs…

In the center of the floor, we see an atrium that soars from the second to the fifth floor. It’s reminiscent of an art gallery. Actually, there’s a reason for it: The space uses natural energy.

First, the brightness of the atrium. Sunlight pours in from the skylight above and scatters as if filtering through trees, reaching wide and deep into the atrium to fill it with gentle illumination. Thanks to this passive, sunlit lighting system, no electricity is needed.
Reference:Sky Shower from Material House

The building is designed to make maximum use of the site’s natural energy. Temperature gradients circulate the air in spring, summer and fall. In winter, a greenhouse effect reduces load on HVAC systems.

These phenomena can be confirmed at a glance on this monitor. Through simple measures such as opening windows, everyone at FAS works together to create a comfortable working environment.

Now let’s visit each floor in turn.
Each floor is bright and open, with unobstructed views throughout.

The President’s Office, here made public for possibly the first time, is also glass-walled.
Roller screens are installed to block off individual rooms, but staff rarely uses them.

 

As you can see, the views from the spacious upper floors are captivating. They’re a favorite with employees, too.
The 360-degree panoramic view takes in Lake Biwa, Mt. Ibuki and the Suzuka Mountains. On clear days, it’s amazing. During the summer fireworks season, the views of the fireworks in Hikone and Takamiya are superb.

Next, let’s proceed to the building next door. We can reach it through the second-floor passageway.

The passageway opens into a vast cafeteria. At lunchtime the atmosphere is bustling and fun.

Employees say the March 2020 refurbishment made the cafeteria’s food dramatically tastier. The menu is more varied and employees can choose combinations of the items they love. Moreover, self-checkout registers and an improved layout reduce waiting times, making the cafeteria more convenient.

 

Finally, let’s take a tour of the outdoor parking lot.

Hey, look! Doctor Yellow is passing by!

Little kids love this sight. So do employees.
“On ‘Open Office’ event days, the sight of children glued to the glass walls of the President’s Office to watch the Shinkansen zoom by was unforgettable.”
“FAS head office is right next to the Shinkansen and Ohmi Railway tracks, so it’s a favorite with railway lovers. When I tell people that I’ve seen Doctor Yellow countless times, children especially seem to really envy me!”

At the very back of the parking lot, do you know what those are?

That’s right. They’re solar generating panels. FAS is introducing solar power generation at its facilities.

One of the efforts FAS is making to reduce CO2 emissions is the installation of solar generating facilities to serve its own energy-consumption needs. The operation began on January 31, 2022. The contribution of this project is significant, as it provides about 12% of the energy consumed by FAS head office.

Thanks for taking this walking tour of FAS head office with us!
We hope you’ve gained a sense of the working atmosphere here at FAS head office.

 

FAS head office is full of incredible things to see. The spaces we’ve introduced to you embody the ambience at FAS head office and show why the facility is a regional landmark: its maximum use of the natural energy resources of Shiga Prefecture. The people continuing their business activities here are working together as a team to achieve further synergies in the search for a sustainable future.
Next, be sure to check out the extra edition, where we feature interviews with key people at NTT Facilities and Itoki. The extra is full of fascinating tidbits about the design concept and the construction process.

Extra edition