Epstein's Top 100 Projects: #86: Grand Cube Osaka

Our 86th project in Epstein's Top 100 countdown is Japan’s Grand Cube Osaka, completed in 1997.

Serving as a convention center and architectural consultant, Epstein worked with design architect Kisho Kurokawa Architects for this 500,000-square-foot building, which consisted of a large auditorium, flexible meeting rooms, a large exhibit hall, underground parking for 500 cars and an international conference center located at the penthouse.

Grand Cube Osaka’s main hall can be used for a variety of events, including international conferences that gather people from around the world as well as ceremonies and concerts that demand the best acoustics. With a capacity of 2,574, this expansive area has a movable stage that allows for a variety of different room configurations. With space to comfortably seat large groups, simultaneous interpretation equipment, large video screens, the latest sound equipment and more, the main hall is a first-rate stage.

Graced with murals on the ceiling depicting traditional Osaka festivals, the large conference room offers an elegant setting for international conferences welcoming VIP guests from around the world. The 16.8-meter-high domed ceiling gives the room a sense of openness, while the hall’s round shape lends the feeling of being at a round-table conference. The spacious room comfortably accommodates 500 and boasts the latest audio equipment and a simultaneous translation system for up to eight languages, making it the perfect setting for any international gathering.