YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE Earns Award of Merit at IES Illumination Awards
On August 22, 2025, the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) hosted its highly anticipated 2025 IES Illumination Awards ceremony in California, U.S.A. Among the evening’s highlights was the recognition of “YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE,” a landmark project designed and constructed by Obayashi Corporation, which received the Award of Merit in the category of Outdoor Lighting Design.
This distinction underscores the project’s excellence in lighting design, as well as its ability to seamlessly merge architectural beauty, technical expertise, and environmental sensitivity. For Obayashi Corporation, one of Japan’s leading construction and engineering companies, the recognition marks yet another milestone in its long-standing tradition of delivering projects that push the boundaries of design innovation.
About the IES Illumination Awards
The IES Illumination Awards are recognized globally as one of the most prestigious accolades in the field of lighting. Organized annually by the Illuminating Engineering Society, an authority in lighting science and design since its founding in 1906, the awards honor projects that demonstrate creativity, innovation, technical proficiency, and aesthetic excellence.
Unlike many industry recognitions that often emphasize technical performance alone, the IES Illumination Awards celebrate the artistry and human experience of light. Submissions are rigorously reviewed by panels of industry experts, architects, and designers, ensuring that award-winning projects not only meet functional requirements but also contribute to cultural and urban enrichment.
Within the program, the Award of Merit stands as a coveted recognition, reserved for projects that achieve a high level of design distinction and are considered exemplary within their category. By earning this award, YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE joins a distinguished list of international projects that are shaping the global dialogue on lighting design.
YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE: A New Landmark in Minato Mirai
The award-winning project, YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE, is a large-scale urban development located in the heart of the Yokohama Minato Mirai 21 district in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. This area has long been a hub for innovation, culture, and urban growth, serving as a symbol of Yokohama’s modernization and international presence.
SYMPHOSTAGE was conceived as a multi-functional complex that not only offers office spaces, retail establishments, a hotel, and commercial facilities but also provides open plazas and gathering areas for the public. The development consists of three main components:
- West Tower (30 stories) – a centerpiece for business and commercial activities.
- East Tower (16 stories) – integrating office and commercial spaces with accessibility in mind.
- Outdoor plazas and surrounding spaces – designed as vibrant urban gathering points, encouraging community interaction and pedestrian flow.
The name “SYMPHOSTAGE” itself evokes the spirit of “symphony” and “stage,” symbolizing a place where people, activities, and cultures converge in harmony. By design, the complex is not just a functional space but also a cultural landmark that redefines the urban landscape of Minato Mirai.
The Role of Lighting in Urban Identity
In modern architecture, lighting plays an increasingly important role in defining a building’s character and its relationship with the city. For YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE, the design team at Obayashi Corporation placed lighting at the core of the project’s identity. The illumination design had to serve multiple purposes:
- Enhance architectural beauty – ensuring the towers stand out while blending harmoniously with the skyline.
- Promote safety and accessibility – creating well-lit public areas that encourage use at all hours.
- Respect the surrounding environment – balancing brightness with subtlety to avoid excessive light pollution.
- Reflect cultural expression – using light as a medium to connect with the heritage and vibrancy of Yokohama.
The outcome was a carefully orchestrated lighting composition that transitions in tone and texture as it ascends the building.
Award-Winning Illumination Design
The outdoor lighting design of YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE is characterized by a gradation transition from warm, soft incandescent tones near the ground level to cooler, white lighting on the upper levels of the towers. This gradual shift serves several functions:
- Human-scale warmth at the ground level: The soft glow at the plazas and lower sections of the towers creates a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere for pedestrians and visitors. This encourages people to linger, interact, and feel safe within the shared spaces.
- Visual harmony with the skyline: The transition to crisp white lighting higher up aligns with the aesthetic of surrounding office towers and blends with the evening sky. This ensures the development integrates seamlessly into Yokohama’s cityscape while still maintaining its own distinct identity.
- Architectural emphasis: The gradation highlights the vertical lines of the towers, subtly drawing the eye upward and emphasizing their architectural elegance.
This approach to illumination is a balance between functionality and artistry, where the design supports everyday use while contributing to the overall atmosphere of the city. The project demonstrates how lighting can move beyond mere necessity to become a form of urban storytelling.
Impact on the Minato Mirai Area
Minato Mirai is one of Japan’s most prominent waterfront urban developments, known for its blend of business, leisure, and cultural facilities. The introduction of YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE adds a new layer of vibrancy to the area.
By incorporating thoughtfully designed lighting, the complex not only becomes a safe and attractive nighttime destination but also reinforces Minato Mirai’s identity as a hub of innovation and design excellence. Residents, workers, and tourists alike benefit from the inviting public spaces, while the illuminated towers enhance the visual narrative of Yokohama’s skyline.
The project demonstrates how urban developments can simultaneously cater to economic needs, community well-being, and environmental sensitivity. In this sense, YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE is not only a building project but also a social and cultural investment in the city’s future.
Obayashi Corporation’s Commitment to Excellence
For Obayashi Corporation, this award represents more than just recognition for a single project. It reflects the company’s ongoing mission to contribute to the realization of a better society through construction that integrates technology, sustainability, and human-centered design.
With a history dating back to 1892, Obayashi has played a central role in shaping Japan’s urban environments and has expanded its influence globally through infrastructure, building, and engineering projects. Its projects consistently emphasize:
- Innovation in design and engineering
- Environmental responsibility and sustainability
- Community and cultural relevance
The success of YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE and its international recognition through the IES Illumination Award of Merit further reinforce Obayashi’s reputation as a leader in holistic urban development.
The Future of Lighting in Construction
The recognition of YOKOHAMA SYMPHOSTAGE highlights a broader trend in construction and urban development: the rising importance of lighting as a central design element. As cities evolve, architects and developers are increasingly leveraging illumination not only for utility but also for aesthetic, cultural, and environmental impact.
With advancements in LED technology, smart lighting systems, and energy-efficient solutions, the future of urban lighting promises even greater possibilities. Projects like SYMPHOSTAGE serve as benchmarks for how lighting can elevate architecture, enrich public spaces, and align with sustainability goals.
