Installation of ECO Cycle™ at the Head Office of the Shikoku Bank

GIKEN LTD. announced that the automated bicycle parking facility ECO Cycle™ (aboveground model; capacity of 50 bicycles) has been adopted for the head office rebuilding project of the Shikoku Bank, Ltd. (Head Office: Kochi-shi; President: Tatsuji Kobayashi). 

Under this project, the Shikoku Bank will be rebuilding its downtown head office building (1-chome, Minamiharimaya-cho, Kochi-shi) at the same site by around spring 2031 for the purpose of strengthening seismic resistance and disaster-prevention functions. Construction will proceed in the order of a car/bicycle parking building, a new headquarters building, and a new head office building.

The bicycle parking building, which will be equipped with ECO Cycle™, is scheduled for completion in May 2026 and is being developed as an employee bicycle parking facility. ECO Cycle™ has been evaluated for its peace of mind, with no worries about the risks of theft and exposure to weather elements, as well as its convenience, with high-speed operation that does not result in congestion even during rush hour. The aboveground model is being adopted for this project, and glass walls will be used for parts of the exterior to turn it into an iconic bicycle parking building that shows the workings of the machinery inside.

Originating from Kochi, ECO Cycle™ has been building up its track record. So far, 63 units have been installed at 26 locations nationwide in Japan, mainly in urban areas, contributing towards solving urban issues. GIKEN will continue to further intensify proposal activities and contribute to sustainable, safe, secure, and comfortable urban development. 

Image of GRIN Base EC™ installed at the head office of The Shikoku Bank
Source: The Shikoku Bank, Ltd.
* This is an image of the current plan and is subject to change following further discussion.

In preparation for large-scale disasters such as the Nankai Trough earthquake, the Shikoku Bank decided to rebuild its head office building to ensure the safety of the building and strengthen its business continuity system. A car/bicycle parking building (ECO Cycle™/ECO Park™), a new headquarters building, and a new head office building will be constructed in order using the site of the current main building, annex, and car/bicycle parking facility, which are located in an urban area. Besides adopting a seismic damper structure, the new head office building will use materials and plants produced in Kochi Prefecture.

An office environment that achieves employee well-being is also one of the concepts stated for the rebuilding. The adoption of ECO Cycle™—an automated bicycle parking facility which originates from Kochi—was considered as safety and convenience are also required for the employee bicycle parking facility. 

With ECO Cycle™, there are no worries about the risks of theft and exposure to weather elements. It is also equipped with many features to protect both users and their bicycles, including parking/retrieval doors that prevent accidental entry and earthquake detection sensors. Furthermore, it can be used comfortably even during rush hour due to its speedy retrieval, as fast as 10 seconds and an average of 15 seconds. It is compatible with a variety of commercially available bicycles, including lightweight bicycles, sports bicycles, bicycles with child seats, and electric-assist bicycles.

The installation location is near the tourist spot Harimaya Bridge and faces a street where streetcars run. The aboveground model—incorporated into the building with glass walls being used for parts of the exterior—is being adopted to create a view that is pleasant to the eyes of prefectural residents as well as Japanese and overseas tourists. It is expected to serve as a new landmark that will add colour to the urban neighbourhood, displaying the stored bicycles and showing the movements of the mechanical equipment not only during the day but also at night when the interior is lit up.

* Created by GIKEN LTD. based on the “Geospatial Information Authority of JAPAN Map Vector”
(Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, https://www.gsi.go.jp/ENGLISH/index.html)

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