On July 1, 2025, the Tokai National Higher Education and Research System (THERS) opened a new facility called Common Nexus on the Higashiyama Campus of Nagoya University. Referred to as “ComoNe,” the building will serve as a hub that connects universities, local communities, and broader society.
ComoNe is designed as a space where students and faculty from Gifu University and Nagoya University, members of the public, and private companies can gather and learn. Events will be held year-round, including creative and research exhibitions, exchanges between students and businesses, and hands-on programs for children. The goal is to disseminate academic knowledge to broader society and create opportunities for people of all fields and generations to come together to foster innovation.
ComoNe (center-left), newly built at the heart of the Higashiyama Campus of Nagoya University. Toyoda Auditorium visible to the right.
A New Kind of Campus
From an underground entrance directly connected to Nagoya University Station, visitors will step into a space the challenges the traditional image of a national university. Open to people of all ages and backgrounds, the facility includes freely accessible open areas, a membership-based coworking space, halls for lectures and live events, a video production studio, a makerspace equipped with 3D printers and other machines, a rental kitchen, and areas for individual, university, or corporate exhibitions.
The goal is to share academic knowledge “not through research papers but through the senses.” Like a gallery or museum, ComoNe will help visitors interact with this knowledge directly through their five senses.
Renderings of the interior of ComoNe, which show the different event and working areas.
“There will always be something happening at ComoNe,” said the management team. The facility will regularly offer STEAM-based* programs and exhibitions that creatively blend science and art. These projects will be selected through open calls for participation both within and outside the university network. Visitors can look forward to events with diverse themes such as “Creating Social Value,” “Nurturing the Next Generation,” “Revitalizing Local Communities,” and “Fostering International Exchange.”
The Architectural Concept: Soil
ComoNe, a new symbol of THERS, stands at the heart of Nagoya University’s Higashiyama Campus. The facility has one story above ground and two below, with a total floor area of 7,313 square meters—equivalent to a soccer field. The exterior design, which makes it appear as if the top layer of the earth has been peeled back, features a grass-covered roof that creates a green space connecting the lawn in front of Toyoda Auditorium with the Central Library.
View of ComoNe’s rooftop from the Central Library side. (Image by Tomomasa Kusunose)
The main floor, located on the first basement level, embodies the concept of “beneath the soil.” Just as diverse forms of life and matter coexist underground, uniquely named areas inspired by soil—Sand Theater, Loam Hall, Clay Nest, and Roots Books—are dotted throughout the facility, showcasing university research with a particular focus on STEAM-integrated exhibits.
Diagram of ComoNe’s various levels (Illustration by Tatsuya Ono)
The ComoNe logo also represents this theme of diversity, depicting objects of various colors and shapes intersecting and overlapping.
The Meaning Behind the Name
The word “common” in the facility’s name is used in the sense of “shared” or “mutual,” while “nexus” refers to “links” or “connections.” The two terms express the goal of the project: to “bring people together to create something new.” Chosen through a student vote, the nickname “ComoNe” symbolizes the spirit of co-creation that defines the spaces inside the facility.
The facility embodies the guiding principle of THERS: “Make New Standards for The Public,” which seeks to pursue a new form of national university that contributes to both the region and society at large. By disseminating academic research and educational resources as public assets, THERS hopes that ComoNe will play a key role in fostering innovation.
After five years of planning and construction, Common Nexus is now ready to welcome visitors to a place where innovative value and meaningful connections come to life.
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This article was originally written in Japanese by Tatsuyuki Fukui for the “Public Relations Meidai” web magazine and published on June 24, 2025. The Nagoya University International Communications Office has translated and edited it for clarity while preserving the original content’s intent. For the original Japanese version, please see here.