Sunshine 60

Sunshine 60
サンシャイン60
General information
Type Mixed-use
Location 3-1-1 Higashi-Ikebukuro
Toshima, Tokyo, Japan
Coordinates
Construction started July 1973
Completed 1978
Opening March 1978
Height
Roof 239.7 meters (786 ft)
Technical details
Floor count 60 above ground
5 below ground
Design and construction
Architect Mitsubishi Estate Co.

Sunshine 60 (サンシャイン60 Sanshain rokujū?) is a 60-story, mixed-use skyscraper located in Ikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo, adjoining the Sunshine City complex. At the time of its completion in 1978, the 239.7 m (786 ft) building was the tallest in Asia, a title it held until 1985 when it was surpassed by the 63 Building in Seoul. Sunshine 60 was also the tallest building in Tokyo and Japan until the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was completed in 1991.[1]

Contents

Construction

Sunshine 60's foundation is made of reinforced concrete. The lower segment of the building is also reinforced concrete with a steel skeleton. The upper tower is a steel skeleton with "slitted shear walls". These unique walls were inserted between columns in the core, allowing the walls to conform to deformations in the steel frame caused by earthquakes and wind shear helping to assure structural integrity. A rigid framing structural system creates the frame. Mechanical equipment is located directly above the core of the structure on its rooftop.[2]

Sunshine 60 was erected over the site of the destroyed Sugamo Prison, famously used to hold senior Japanese war criminals during the occupation. On December 23, 1948, seven high-ranking, convicted war criminals (including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo) were hanged at the prison. In popular modern lore, the area is rumored to be haunted.[1]

Facilities

As a mixed-use high-rise, Sunshine 60's space is used for a variety of things. Floors 1 through 9 are used as commercial space and house a post office, banks, showrooms, cafeterias, a health care center and a day care center. Office space occupies floors 10 through 57. Restaurants are located on the 58th and 59th floors.

From the 60th floor, visitors can see as far as 100 km on a clear day from Sunshine 60's observation deck. To get visitors to the observation deck quickly, one of the tower's 40 elevators takes passengers directly from the lobby at a speed of 600 meters per minute (22.4 mph). This elevator is one of the fastest in the world.[2]

Office tenants

The office floors house the headquarters of Credit Saison, FamilyMart, NTT Plala and Sammy Corporation, among other office tenants.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Sunshine 60". Skyscraperpage.com. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=1777. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 
  2. ^ a b "Sunshine 60 Building". Skyscrapercity.com. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=8048. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 

External links

Records
Preceded by
Shinjuku Mitsui Building
Tallest building in Japan
240 m (786 ft)
1978–1991
Succeeded by
Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 1
Tallest building in Tokyo
240 m (786 ft)
1978–1991