Connection Hall,
Hosho Gakuen Building No.6 Learning Center

Dec. 15,2022

School and UniversityAuditorium

Project Description

Long-awaited 'Connection Hall' where all students in the school can assemble

Located in Toshima-ku, Tokyo, a convenient 15-minute walk from JR Ikebukuro Station, is the "Hosho Gakuen Educational Corporation," consisting of three schools: Tokyo College of Transport Studies, Toshima Gakuin High School, and Showa Tetsudo High School.

Hosho Gakuen, with its impressive railroad body installed on campus, has produced many talented people in the railroad and transportation industry, as well as in the distribution and tourism industries.

In June 2022, the construction of Hosho Gakuen Building No.6 Learning Center was completed in the heart of the campus.

Building No. 6 Learning Center is a four-story school building with a library on the first floor, a train operation simulator room on the second floor, and halls on the third and fourth floors. The 472-seat hall known as 'Connection Hall' has the capacity to accommodate all students in the school and was eagerly awaited by the Hosho Gakuen.

Till now, the gatherings during the school year were conducted in the gymnasium. Pipe chairs had to be lined up each time the assembly or event was held in the gymnasium for classes. Setting up these chairs took time and effort. It was not possible to place study materials on or take notes in the pipe chairs, and it was also difficult to see the stage from the rear. Therefore, "easy-to-see and easy-to-use" was the requirement while constructing this new hall.

Easy-to-see-from and easy to use desks and seats were requested

The Connection Hall is fan-shaped, following the outline of the building. The seats are arranged along the arc of the fan shape so that they gently surround the stage in front.

The floor of the two-tiered seating area is stair-shaped. The upper-level seats have a large height difference of 510 mm between each step, making it easy to see the speakers on stage from any seat.

The furniture was selected from Kotobuki Seating's Lecture Theater series with the intention of using it not only for gatherings and events, but also for conducting everyday classes. The Lecture Theater series is a product that will be in sync with future learning styles, emphasizing interactive conversation and presentation in the classroom. The tables and seats are independent of one another, which not only accommodates various seating layouts, but also prevents vibrations from adjacent seats.

We tested the product in Kotobuki Seating's showroom before finalizing it. After comparing various seats, the comfortable and spacious LT-400 seats that are like auditorium seats and the simple LT-100 retractable table were chosen.

From lectures to classes, furniture that suits every occasion

The LT-400 is a seat with a 3D curved backrest that conforms to the body shape and a seat filled with moderately soft urethane, which makes it comfortable even for long hours of use.

The seat has an automatic slow-rising mechanism that lifts the seat when you get up from it, maintaining silence even on leaving the seat during a lecture. Armrests on both sides of the seat create personal space for the user and support a comfortable posture while listening to lectures.

The LT-100 is a retractable table that can accommodate A3-size documents as well. It is normally stored along the panel extending from the floor and is pulled out for use. We have made it retractable for ease of use, and thus the space utilization in the Hall has been maximized.

The seat upholstery is a charcoal gray to match the interior. Soft white wood is chosen for the wooden parts to create a uniform feel throughout the hall.

The construction of the Learning Center has just been completed. In addition to holding assemblies and lectures, the Connection Hall is ready to serve as an open platform for students where they can present or perform freely, such as giving presentations.

Facility Overview

The construction of the Hosho Gakuen Building No. 6 Learning Center was completed in June 2022, and it was developed in the fifth phase of the campus master plan formulated in 1998.

From the former Building No. 6, which was used as a lecture building for the Tokyo College of Transport Studies, the operations have now relocated to the current new building of the college. The new Building No. 6 will now be used by all the three schools under Hosho Gakuen, partly because of its location at the center of the campus. It is at the core of the cultural activities and communication on campus.

The concept behind the design of the Hall is further "growth" of the students and the "development" of the school. The design embodies our hope that the students will learn many things at the school and bloom into big "flowers of knowledge".

The Connection Hall Located on the upper level is decorated with panels of petals on the Hall's ceiling and walls, which are acoustic diffusers.

Project Summary

Location: Toshima-Ku, Tokyo Map

Client: Hosho Gakuen

Design: ATSUSHI KITAGAWARA ARCHITECTS

Completed: Jun, 2022

Seats: 472

Special Website: Hosho Gakuen Website

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Connection Hall,Hosho Gakuen Building No.6 Learning Center