Main Hall,
RaiBoC Hall

Oct. 23,2024

Theater / Hall

Project Description

History of the new civic hall begins with an auditorium inspired by the city's symbol

In October 2021, construction of a large-scale complex, “Omiya Kadomachi”, was completed near the east exit of Omiya Station in Saitama Prefecture. The 18-story building with three basement floors houses commercial facilities such as restaurants and stores, banks, offices, and RaiBoC Hall (Civic Hall Omiya) which was relocated here as a new center for culture and art creation.

The Main Hall, with the same number of seats as the old hall, attracts the eye with its bright green seating, inspired by the fresh greenery of the approach to Musashi Ichinomiya Hikawa Shrine, the symbol of Omiya. The former one-slope configuration, which was extended continuously from the front row to the back row, was replaced by a two-tiered configuration, bringing the audience much closer to the stage. A staggered layout is also newly adopted in the center block in front of the aisle that crosses the first floor. The stage is not obstructed by the heads of those in front, ensuring clear sightlines.

Creating resident-friendly, comfortable, barrier-free seating

Lining the 1,400-seat auditorium is “Unison” TS-19 series, theater and hall seating. The design features an angled wedge of the side panel. Seated persons can swivel their legs sideways in the seat to keep the space in front of their seats wide enough to encourage smooth passage for others. Each seat is equipped with a barrier-free version of Spacia. The thinning of the edge that touches the back of the knee makes it easier to pull the legs out, facilitating standing up and sitting down. The hall's staff members selected these resident-friendly specifications after comparing the seats in Kotobuki Seating's Showroom.

The seats in the old hall had a straight, 2D shape for both the backrest board and cushion. The new seats have a 3D curve that fits the posture of the seated person, allowing for a more relaxed body position. The backrest is 100 mm higher, and the seat surface is 35 mm higher, improving seating comfort by conforming to the physique of contemporary users. The seat is made of molded polyurethane that resists denting, and a durable metal Serpentine spring that disperses body weight, reducing the strain on the body caused by prolonged viewing. The robust die-cast aluminum parallel legs reduce vibration transmission from neighboring seats and enhance viewing concentration compared to conventional seats, which are connected to several seats by connecting tubes.

A soundproofed multipurpose room was set up behind the first-floor seating area. Sofas with the same green upholstery as the audience seats have been installed, allowing everyone, including families with small children, to enjoy the stage without concern for disturbing others. A wheelchair space is also provided at the front of the auditorium for easy viewing.

Facility Overview

RaiBoC Hall was opened in April 2022, replacing the former Civic Hall, which had served the community for more than half a century. Located on the fourth to eighth floors of the Omiya Kadomachi, a newly built large-scale complex close to the east exit of Omiya Station, it is equipped with two halls of different sizes, as well as conference rooms, exhibition rooms, studios, and Japanese-style rooms, and is widely used for concerts, plays, and various other events.