Multipurpose Conference Room,
Niage Complex Public Facility

Feb. 25,2025

Multipurpose HallConference Room

Project Description

Complex public facility created as a place of relaxation for local residents

Niage Complex Public Facility is based on the concept of "creating a safe and comfortable place for relaxation for local residents and visitors. The theme of this project is to coexist administrative functions such as the Firefighting Command Center, Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters Office, Fire Department and City Office with community functions such as Oita Central Community Center and Funai Children's Room, with the aim of creating a lively public facility.

Among them, the multipurpose large conference room is a special place that attracts people, and the Retractable Seating System has been installed to meet a variety of needs, such as being used for public lectures hosted by Oita City on weekdays and open for residents on weekends.

Retractable Seating System that combines seating comfort and ease of use

The multipurpose main conference room can accommodate up to 250 people, with a 120-seat Retractable Seating System located on the rear wall side of the hall. It was installed with care so that the front of the room can be easily seen from the rear of the large conference room.

It can be deployed when in use, and when not in use, it can be retracted against a wall to create a flat floor for a variety of events. A manual type was chosen because it can be easily stopped in the middle of an operation to check safety. Simple operating procedures ensure smooth setup.

The seats mounted on the Retractable Seating Systemare the CS01, which is compact but has excellent cushioning. The polyurethane cushions used in the backrest and seat are wrapped in highly breathable and durable 3D mesh upholstery, which prevents a stuffy feeling caused by sweating and keeps the seat comfortable even after long periods in the seat. When the user leaves the seat, the backrest and seat fit snugly together and fold compactly so that it does not interfere with passing through in front of the seat.

Mobile stage setup for easy handling

The multipurpose conference room is equipped with an FS-055 movable folding stage with casters for use in lectures and other applications.

The stage has casters and can be folded for easy deployment, retraction, and transportation. The stage can be quickly set up when needed and in the required scale, making it ideal for multipurpose conference rooms used for a variety of purposes.

It is also easy to operate, with casters automatically raised to be supported by the leg when deployed, and casters lowered to make it movable when retracted. The casters can be quickly deployed and retracted in a short period of time without the need to manually raise and lower the casters. The height can be freely adjusted by using the adjusters on each leg, which helps prevent level differences and makes installation easy, even when multiple stages are placed side by side.

A space that evokes Oita's rich natural environment, inspired by the forest and the sea

The design concept of Niage Complex Public Facility is to incorporate natural elements, and cedar, a local timber, is used abundantly for interior materials and furniture.

Because of the color of Oita city emblem and its location near the ocean, the refreshing blue color is used throughout the Retractable Seating System and the carpet in the foyer in front of the conference room. The upholstery of the Retractable Seating System is brightly and randomly arranged in two blue colors reminiscent of the ocean, which, together with the natural wood louvers, create a space that evokes the rich natural environment of Oita.

Facility Overview

Niage Complex Public Facility was developed on the site of Niage-machi Elementary School, which had been closed in March 2017, and opened in April 2024.
The first and second floors serve as a civic community base, with a Funai Children's Room where parents and children can casually play together, a study space for junior and senior high school students with an open area, and a common space that can be used for exhibitions and events. It is also designed as a facility to expand the residents' gallery function in collaboration with the adjacent Oita City Art Plaza, a renowned architectural masterpiece designed by Arata Isozaki. On the other hand, the third to sixth floors are used as the city office building, which houses the Oita Firefighting Command Center, the Disaster Countermeasures Headquarters Room, and a large multipurpose conference room. The Oita Firefighting Command Center is one of the few centers in Japan to integrate the firefighting command centers in Oita Prefecture and achieve joint operation, attracting attention from all over the country.

By creating two different spaces, a safe and secure community space where people gather year-round and a large multipurpose conference room with a view of Oita Joushi Park, the administrative and community functions coexist, resulting in a high utilization.