Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology

Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology

Address: 1919-1 Tancha,Onna-on,kunigami-gun,OkinawaMain use: Graduate University Site area: 354,195.47 SQM

Building area: 15,089.22 SQM
Total floor area: 42,120.52 SQM
Avant-garde
The Okinawa Institute of Science & Technology is a graduate university for research and education newly established by the Japanese Government, targeted to compete with the best academic institutes in the world – in both the quality of the research carried out as well as the architecture of the campus itself. OIST aims to be an avant-garde prototype for re-creating research/education in science on a global level. Key catchwords include “interdisciplinary”, “non-departmental”, “mingling”, “serendipity”. As these words make clear, OIST was determined to avoid the organizational rigidity and departmental isolation that characterize so many academic institutions in Japan and much of the world. 

Master planned with Nature
The architecture of the buildings has its own unique characteristics determined by the unique site conditions, quite aside from the unique operational principles of the institution. 240ha of intricate hills and ravines with natural forest was provided as the overall site, with the architect instructed to choose exactly where on the site to build the campus.

 An environmental impact assessment made it clear that the valleys and small streams they shelter constitute a valuable ecosystem with rare flora and fauna which must be preserved at all cost. We decided that the buildings could only take place on the ridges, contrary to the conventional site development where valleys are filled to produce flat large sites for construction.



 The narrowness of the ridges defined the shape of the buildings which are connected by bridges flying over the untouched natural forest and streams. 


 The overall master plan is made up of a residential zone “village” and carparking on the lower part of the site in proximity to the existing local community, with the laboratories and central facilities building on adjacent ridges higher up the site. 



 There is a 30m vertical difference between the two levels. The two areas are connected by a 200m long, curving pedestrian corridor and tunnel, and elevators housed in a dramatic vertical light shaft. 
Blending People
Unity of the campus, not only in appearance but in the activities of the occupants, was the primary goal to be achieved.

The Center Building, where you arrive from the tunnel and vertical shaft, houses shared facilities such as lecture rooms, the library, cafeteria and central plant rooms, as well as the administration offices. It has a large green courtyard surrounded by a cloister. 
 

  This serves as the space unifying all the campus activities. Laboratory 1 houses about 20 research groups (200 people). It was completed in March 2010 and is now in full operation. Laboratory 2, just completed, will house about 25 research groups with 250 people.

 It is connected to the Center building through a “skywalk” with spectacular views over the sea and forest. 

Grown from Okinawa
The building aims to merge with its cultural and physical landscape. The base of the buildings is clad in the same stone as Nakijin Castle, a World Heritage Site in Okinawa that reflects the former Ryukyu Kingdom on these islands.

On the upper part, roofs, walls and eaves are covered with a ventilated skin system with ceramic shingles. Its dark faded brown, the color of the trunks of the Ryukyu pine trees that grow only in Okinawa, merges well with the vast green woods under the strong sun of the islands. Deep eaves cut the glare from the bright sky, and also protect the buildings from summer heat and typhoons, while reducing the cooling load.



 Future Plans

With development commencing this year, the Campus Village will provide housing and related community facilities for up to 50% of the total university population. OIST plans to develop the Village under a public-private partnership (PPP) with a commercial developer, under the terms of which the developer will build and operate the facilities on OIST's behalf for 30 years.

A range of housing types are planned, including shared and single apartments for students and postdocs, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments for postdoc couples and families, and family houses, principally for faculty.



The first stage of the Village construction comprises the Collaboration Center (a four story complex with apartments on the upper floors and common facilities on the ground floor) and several faculty houses. The Child Development Center is targeted for completion by early 2013, and future phases of housing development will be undertaken to accommodate demand as the campus population grows.


 
 

 

The four-story Collaboration Center will have common and community facilities on the ground floor and one- and two-bedroom apartments above. To the east and west will be blocks and two- and three-bedroom apartments surrounding a landscaped garden.