Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on March 06, 2026, 3:03 PM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize woody and lumbery communities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize the economy, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
Tsuda College and Sumitomo Forestry held a ceremony on March 5 to mark the completion of the Wellness Pavilion, a new one-story wooden facility at the Kodaira Campus in Kodaira, Tokyo. Designed and constructed by Sumitomo Forestry, the facility is designed to both promote the physical and mental health of students and to take decarbonization into consideration. The extensive use of wood in the structural materials and interior design has created a highly relaxing space.
The Wellness Pavilion was constructed as part of the Kodaira Campus Master Plan being promoted by the university. With a total floor area of approximately 460 square meters, the building is a one-story wooden structure built using the conventional frame construction method. In addition to the wood grain design, the entrance hall and multi-purpose room actively incorporate the "genshi" method of exposing the pillars and beams. By utilizing the relaxing effects of wood grain and the scent of wood, the building creates an environment that reduces anxiety and stress among students and encourages personal growth.
In addition to functions as a wellness center, such as a medical office and consultation room, the facility is equipped with a multipurpose room and a meditation room that can be used for public lectures. In addition, there are all-gender toilets that anyone can use with peace of mind. The eaves of the entrance are made of CLT (laminated laminated laminated timber), which accentuates the beauty of the wood while ensuring fire resistance. These designs are not limited to the mere pursuit of convenience, but place the highest priority on the wellbeing of the users.
The total amount of wood used in the entire building amounts to about 127 cubic meters, which fixes about 103 tons of CO2 over a long period of time. The advantage of wood construction over steel-framed or reinforced concrete construction is that it reduces CO2 emissions during construction. It contributes to decarbonization throughout its entire life cycle, from material procurement to construction and operation.
Harmony with the surrounding lush greenery and the adjacent Tamagawa-josui waterway was also emphasized. By locating all the openings facing the forest, the design allows the residents to feel connected to nature even while inside the building. In addition, through workshops with students, existing trees that have been a part of the campus landscape for many years were restored as benches and artwork. This effort to pass on the memories of the past to new facilities symbolizes the university's respect for its historic traditions. Spaces like this that maximize the appeal of trees will serve as a model for the future of educational environments.
Property Summary
Construction name: Construction of new Wellness Building, Kodaira Campus, Tsuda College
Location: 2-1-1 Tsudacho, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo
Use: University (health management facility)
Site area: 76543.22 square meters
Total floor area: 460.17 square meters (139.2 tsubo)
Structure/No. of floors: Wooden one-story structure (conventional frame construction method), 45-minute quasi-fireproof construction
Height: approx. 7.3 m (maximum height)
Start of construction: September 8, 2025
Completion: March 5, 2026
Start of use: Late March 2026 (planned)
Basic plan and design supervision: Yasui Architects & Engineers, Inc.
Design and construction: Sumitomo Forestry Co.
Reference Links
Wellness Wing Completed｜Tsuda College
One-Story Wooden Construction of Tsuda College's "Wellness Building" Completed - Contributing to Students' Mental and Physical Health and Decarbonization - | Sumitomo Forestry
