It’s been about two months since the December 1st ribbon-cutting ceremony for Culture Hub, our new office space on the 26th floor.
What has working in this space been like so far?

Culture Hub carries forward the memories of the 18th floor office space, which was a hub for collaboration. Today, as the fresh scent of wood begins to fade and the sound of voices and footsteps grows within the space, we reflect on the feelings and aspirations that shaped the launch of Mercari’s next phase. This article brings you a video and interview with @Shakky, the head of our relocation project.

Culture Hub, captured in a single video

Once the move was decided, the Mercan editorial team began documenting the transformation of the new office, starting from the construction phase.

This video walks you through our CEO Shintaro’s thoughts behind opening Culture Hub, the creative process of the artists who created our upcycled furniture, and the atmosphere in the newly-opened office space. 

Reflecting on the relocation

So, how did Culture Hub come to be? To gain a deeper understand of the background behind the project, we spoke with Workplace Team manager @Shakky, who worked tirelessly on to make the new office a success.

—How did the relocation project begin?

@Shakky: The 18th floor was the predecessor to Culture Hub. It was a wonderful space that Director Koizumi and the designers took great ownership to create, and it has played an important role in Mercari’s history. But functional aspects like seating and meeting rooms were limited by the space… Then came the opportunity to relocate, and we held many discussions about how to carry forward the spirit of the 18th floor while creating a brand new office environment.

The purpose of our office is to serve as a space where the company’s mission and values are clearly conveyed to those who visit. That’s what we aimed to achieve.

—Was there something you were especially intent on conveying through the space?

@Shakky: I wanted to create a place that would allow people to gather and become the driving force of the company. The company’s mission and values should be integrated into the experience of that space, and the space should also embody the concept of circulation.

To allow visitors to understand our mission from various angles, we collaborated with different artists to create office furniture reflecting each artist’s unique interpretation of our company mission. To convey our values, we didn’t just display them at the main entrance. We placed them at various entrances and in areas where people gather to ensure that they would be expressed throughout the entire space. That was our special focus this time.

—Did you face any challenges in the process of designing the office?

@Shakky: I suppose you could say it was quite the challenge to work on the design while finalizing the concept, considering the budget, and deciding on zoning all at once toward the end of the project.

But more importantly, we had to build anticipation among Mercari members for the office relocation. We collected old T-shirts and used aluminum cans from members to integrate into the new office, and organized tours of the office while it was still under construction. I hadn’t really done anything like this before, and fostering this sense of excitement was a personal challenge for me.

Amid changes like returning to the office and becoming AI-Native, we believed that creating an office where people genuinely want to gather could become a way to address multiple challenges at once. That’s why I made it a priority to cultivate anticipation.

—After the new office opened, were there any surprises in how people were using the space?

@Shakky: To be honest, I was a bit worried about how much people would actually use the open spaces, like the café and Unleash area. When you create a space without explicitly defining its intended usage, you never know how people will use it until they do.

I was concerned people might find it easier to have conversations in closed spaces like meeting rooms, but it turns out that the open spaces are being used even more than we anticipated by both teams and individuals.

Many people gather at the café, too, for meetings and casual conversations. As Shintaro mentioned in the interview video, it’s exciting and surprising to see people coming up with their own ways to use the space. Not defining the space too strictly just might have made it easier for each person to find the perfect spot for their own purposes.

—It’s been about two months since the new office opening, and it seems like more and more people are gathering on the 26th floor! 

@Shakky: According to January’s data, the number of people on the 25th floor increased by nearly 20% compared to the same month last year, and Culture Hub has nearly 30% more people than the 18th floor. The average number of days that employees come to the office has also risen by more than 20%. It really feels like this floor is starting to become a place where people naturally gather. It also appears that café sales have increased by nearly 40%! We’re relieved to see that people coming to the office are making good use of it during their breaks.

—What vision do you have for Culture Hub in the future?

@Shakky: I see Culture Hub as a work in progress with room for continuous updates. There are areas not restricted to a specific use, and others offering endless possibilities depending on how they are used. By purposely leaving room for interpretation, we aim to keep it a space where new discoveries can continue happening.

The future ahead

The journey of Culture Hub from construction to opening has been encapsulated in one video, and @Shakky’s words have conveyed both the vision behind the relocation and the sense of accomplishment from seeing our collaborative office finally taking shape. 

Two months after its opening, the 26th floor has evolved from a blueprint to a living space continuously updated by each person who uses it. 

In this office where the value of sharing a physical space is put to the test, Mercari writes its next chapter. Here at the Mercan editorial team, we will continue to write about the endless potential that emerges from this space!

Photographer: Tomohiro Takeshita