Zeon Corporation Japan Completes New Employee Cafeteria at Takaoka Plant

Zeon Corporation (headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tetsuya Toyoshima, hereinafter "Zeon") has completed a new employee cafeteria at its Takaoka Plant (Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture; Plant Manager: Tomoyuki Kose). This marks the first renovation of the cafeteria in 60 years. The opening ceremony, held on-site today, was attended by 31 guests, including representatives from neighboring municipalities, construction partners, and Zeon executives such as Chairman Kojo Tanaka. The facility will begin operations on the 19th as a welfare facility for employees working in the Takaoka area.

The Takaoka Plant cafeteria was originally completed in 1960 and expanded in 1966. For decades, it has served meals to Zeon Group employees in the region. However, it faced challenges such as aging infrastructure and the need to meet increasingly diverse employee needs. The newly constructed cafeteria, relocated to the front of the plant, not only resolves these issues but is also designed as a gathering and relaxation space to foster active communication and support employees' physical and mental well-being.

Key Features of the New Cafeteria

Safe and Secure Dining

The new cafeteria, rebuilt at approximately twice the scale of the previous one, can serve around 500 meals per day. It incorporates seismic, flood, and water intrusion resistance measures, ensuring a safer and more secure dining environment.

Design Reflecting Local Toyama Culture

The design evokes the natural beauty of Toyama Prefecture and incorporates modern interpretations of local cultural elements, such as the heavy storehouse-style architecture and rows of latticed windows found in Takaoka City’s Kanayamachi district, as well as the traditional crafts of Takaoka bronze and lacquerware.

A Space That Encourages Communication

With ceiling heights of 5 to 7 meters, abundant natural light, and views of the surrounding scenery, the open and relaxing space is designed to encourage communication. A variety of seating styles have been provided to meet diverse needs and allow flexible layouts, enabling future use for various events and activities.

Overview of the New Employee Cafeteria

Structure

Steel-frame, single-story building

Total Floor Area

1,008㎡ (approximately double the previous size)

Number of Seats

181 seats (a 20% increase from the previous number)

The new cafeteria will serve as a new symbol for the Zeon Takaoka Plant as it approaches its 70th anniversary of operations in November 2026. By creating a space that fosters communication among employees, Zeon aims to achieve its materiality goal of "realizing a company where everyone can feel genuinely excited," and will continue its efforts toward this vision.