On October 1 Palaceside Building marked 50 years since opening. We thank from the heart office tenants, Meitencai restaurants and shops, those in design and construction, and everyone who has worked on maintenance and management.
In that time it has received many awards: among them the authoritative “DOCOMOMO 20 Modern Buildings,” the BCS Prize (Building Contractors Society), and the first BELCA Award (long-life building division). That architectural magazines and books still take it up and it is judged one of the “celebrated Showa buildings” is a joy.
To mark the 50th, the Palaceside Building Meitencai (chair Hiroaki
Okada, president of Sakae Co., which runs Tea Room Hana), made of restaurant and shop volunteers, has put up banners of thanks this week in the first-floor and first-basement atrium.
In the central atrium, with the words “With you, every day” and “A life full of light and dreams, from now on too,” are “Thanks to you, 50,” an illustration of the building’s exterior, and the design of the core (cylindrical elevator tower), the building’s symbol (photo above).
At the east and west Dream Stairs smaller boards and banners also say “Thanks to you, 50th anniversary” (photo at right).
Meitencai will hold a “stamp rally” for one month, November 1–30, as a 50th-anniversary event. One stamp per 500-yen-or-more use; five stamps earn one garapon draw. Draws are November 10 (Thu), 16 (Wed), 22 (Tue) and 30 (Wed), lunch (11:30–13:30) and evening (17:00–19:30) each day. Prizes and more when it is nearer.
Also for the 50th, the Mainichi morning edition of September 30 ran a special spread like the photo below (facing pages 16–17 and 14–19 × 2 = four pages).
We will keep working so the building is easier to use and more loved.
