Details have been revealed for the new 13-story (plus 2 basement levels) mixed-use commercial and office building being constructed on the former site of 4-chome Plaza (4pla), which sadly closed its doors on January 31, 2022. Let's take a look at what kind of facility it will be.

The Sapporo 4-chome Project (Tentative Name) is a development project on the former site of the fashion building 4pla, which faced the Minami 1-jo Nishi 4-chome scramble crossing, one of Sapporo's busiest downtown areas. The developer, Kashima Corporation, has announced the construction of a mixed-use commercial and office building with 13 floors above ground, 2 basement levels, and a total floor area of approximately 5,700 tsubo (approx. 18,800 sq. meters). Completion is scheduled for January 2025.

Conceptual image of the facility's layout

The project is planned for the Minami 1-jo Nishi 4-chome scramble crossing (4-chome intersection), one of Sapporo's busiest downtown areas.

The development concept is "Sapporo 4th place - A New Hub for Fostering Diverse Values and Lifestyles." This embodies the desire to create a "new hub for fostering diverse values and lifestyles <4th place>" that transcends conventional notions of a place to live (1st place), a place to work (2nd place), and a place for socializing and relaxing (3rd place), bringing together a wide range of entities from individuals to corporations.

The much-anticipated floors from the first basement level to the third floor will be a commercial facility! The above-ground commercial spaces will be positioned facing the main roads of Minami 1-jo Dori and Sapporo Ekimae Dori, allowing citizens and visitors to feel the city's vibrancy. The first basement level is planned to connect with the Sapporo Chikagai Pole Town underground shopping mall, providing access from Subway Odori Station regardless of the weather. The plan includes unique restaurants and shops, creating a lively underground space characteristic of Sapporo.

Furthermore, a "City Living Room" where anyone can casually spend time will be established from the first to the third floors, offering appealing spaces for citizens, visitors, and workers alike. The first-floor "City Living Room" will feature a space with an adjoining café, located directly in front of the Sapporo Streetcar "Nishi 4-chome" stop, where people can relax, enjoy a coffee, or wait for the streetcar.

The third-floor "City Living Room" will utilize the warmth of wood and plants to create a space where people can refresh and relax as if in a park, even during winter. The perimeter of the third floor will be a "semi-outdoor terrace," which is expected to be an eye-catching feature from the intersection below.

The commercial facility extends up to the 3rd floor. The lively atmosphere of the terrace will be visible from the outside.

The fourth to thirteenth floors will be transformed into one of the largest office areas in Sapporo's Odori district, with each floor spanning approximately 300 tsubo (approx. 990 sq. meters) and a total area of about 3,000 tsubo (approx. 9,900 sq. meters). The "City Living Room" on the office entrance floors (1st and 3rd floors) will support the flexible work styles of office workers.

4-chome Plaza, which previously occupied this site, opened in 1971. With unique facilities like the "Jiyu Ichiba" (Free Market) and "4pla Hall," it had been a driving force in Sapporo's youth culture for about 50 years until its closure in 2022.

On the right is the former 4-chome Plaza. Sapporo PARCO is located across the street.

Expectations are running high among Sapporo residents for this new facility being planned for such a significant location.

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