Gate Tower Building, Office building in Fukushima-ku, Japan
The Gate Tower Building is an office tower in Fukushima-ku with 16 stories, defined by the Hanshin Expressway running through its fifth, sixth, and seventh floors. The highway passes through at roughly 22 meters (72 feet) above street level and sits on independent supports.
The tower was completed in 1992 after a compromise between property owners and city officials over expanding the transport network. Construction began only after both parties agreed on this architectural solution.
The Japanese name Gate Tower describes its defining feature: a highway passing through like an entrance. Office workers occupy spaces directly beside the traffic lanes and experience this unusual arrangement every day.
Visitors can view the tower from street level and watch the highway pass through the middle floors. The external elevators are visible on the facade and help illustrate the unusual construction.
The highway never touches the tower itself but rests on separate pillars standing beside the structure. Sound insulation fills the gap between the traffic lanes and the office walls.
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