Demolition of half of the historic Gakushi Kaikan (学士会館) will start in 2025. The property was built in the 1920s and 1930s as club facilities for graduates of several national universities, and registered as a National Tangible Cultural Property in 2003.
The Annex building, to be demolished from April 2025, is being redeveloped due to concerns about earthquake safety and maintenance. It was built in 1937 and designed by Akira Fujimura (1887-1953). He was the chief engineer at Mitsubishi Estate and worked on the Marunouchi Building (completed 1923, demolished 1997), Mitsubishi Bank Main Branch (completed 1922, demolished 1977), Marunouchi Yaesu Building (completed 1928, demolished 2006), and the Hoso Kaikan (completed 1937, still standing). There are no plans to salvage the facade.
The older main building, completed in 1928, will not be demolished. Instead, there are plans to shift it and carry out retrofitting. Relocation will start in April 2026. This is required as Hakusan Street on the western side of the building is being widened by about 7 meters into the property lines.
Completion of the new project is expected by August 2029.
Source: The Kensetsu Shimbun, October 12, 2023.
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