# Building Research Institute

> administrative agency in Japan

**Wikidata**: [Q11486777](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11486777)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/building-research-institute

## Summary
The Building Research Institute is an administrative agency and National Research and Development Agency located in Tsukuba, Japan. Operating as a research institute within the industry of research, it is also known by the aliases 国土交通省建築研究所, 建設省建築研究所, and 建研.

## Key Facts
- **Legal Status**: Classified as a National Research and Development Agency and an administrative agency in Japan.
- **Location**: Situated in Tsukuba, Japan, at coordinates 36.131861, 140.074167.
- **Inception**: Historical records cite the institute's inception as either 1946 or 1942.
- **Industry**: Operates within the research sector.
- **Classification**: Defined as a research institute, an organization whose primary purpose is conducting research rather than teaching or policy advocacy.
- **Identifiers**:
    - **ROR ID**: 02rqdr293
    - **GRID ID**: grid.471551.3
    - **ISNI**: 0000000096248043
    - **VIAF ID**: 142133043
    - **KISTI ID**: K000213401
    - **Ringgold ID**: 13534
    - **Corporate Number (Japan)**: 9050005005205
    - **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n2010019512
    - **NDL Authority ID**: 00883106
- **Digital Presence**: Official website is http://www.kenken.go.jp/; maintains a Wikimedia Commons category and a Japanese Wikipedia entry.
- **Aliases**: Referred to as 国土交通省建築研究所, 建設省建築研究所, and 建研.
- **Cataloging**: Listed in multiple academic databases including CiNii (Research IDs: 1140282266731608960, 1140282266596700672, 1140845216779196672) and NACIS CAT (Author IDs: DA18283313, DA18283302, DA01405347).

## FAQs
### Q: What type of organization is the Building Research Institute?
A: It is a National Research and Development Agency and administrative agency in Japan that functions specifically as a research institute dedicated to systematic investigation.

### Q: Where is the Building Research Institute located?
A: The institute is physically located in Tsukuba, Japan, at the geographic coordinates 36.131861 latitude and 140.074167 longitude.

### Q: What are the different names used for the Building Research Institute?
A: The entity is known by several aliases including 国土交通省建築研究所, 建設省建築研究所, and 建研.

### Q: How does the Building Research Institute differ from a university or think tank?
A: Unlike universities that combine teaching with research, the institute's sole purpose is conducting research. It also differs from think tanks by focusing on fundamental inquiry rather than primarily policy-oriented research.

### Q: When was the Building Research Institute established?
A: There are conflicting dates in the source material regarding its establishment, with references pointing to both 1946 and 1942.

## Why It Matters
As a National Research and Development Agency, the Building Research Institute represents a critical component of Japan's scientific infrastructure. By operating as a dedicated research institute, it functions as an engine of discovery free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention. This organizational structure allows the institute to concentrate resources purely on investigation, accelerating breakthroughs in its specific field. Unlike hybrid organizations or policy-focused think tanks, the Building Research Institute is positioned to pursue long-term, fundamental research that addresses complex technical problems. Its existence underscores the importance of specialized agencies in advancing national knowledge and capability, serving as a stable institution for high-risk inquiry that might not fit within corporate timelines.

## Notable For
- Being designated a National Research and Development Agency, a specific legal form for research entities in Japan.
- Maintaining a distinct identity separate from scientific societies or learned societies, as it is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation.
- Possessing a broad range of international and national identifiers, reflecting its integration into global library and knowledge systems.
- Having a documented history that dates back to the 1940s, with references to both 1942 and 1946.
- Being located in Tsukuba, a city known for science and technology.
- Holding a unique corporate number (9050005005205) within the Japanese administrative system.

## Body
### Organizational Identity and Classification
The Building Research Institute is formally classified as a research institute, a type of organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. It is legally recognized as a National Research and Development Agency and functions as an administrative agency within Japan. This classification distinguishes it from universities, which balance teaching and research, and from think tanks, which typically focus on policy-oriented research. The institute is also differentiated from scientific societies and learned societies, as it is an operational entity focused on hands-on investigation rather than a membership organization.

### Location and Operations
Geographically, the institute is located in Tsukuba, Japan. Its precise coordinates are 36.131861° N, 140.074167° E. As an entity in the research industry, it operates with the specific aim of generating new knowledge through systematic investigation. The institute's operational focus allows it to serve as a dedicated infrastructure for scientific advancement, free from the educational mandates found in academic institutions.

### Historical Context
The establishment of the Building Research Institute is documented in historical records with two distinct inception dates. One source cites the year 1946, while another reference points to 1942. This historical longevity places the institute among the established research organizations in Japan, having undergone potential structural or administrative changes that led to differing dates of recognition in various bibliographic records.

### Bibliographic and Digital Identifiers
The Building Research Institute is extensively cataloged across numerous global and national knowledge systems to ensure its distinct identification and resource discovery.
- **International IDs**: It is registered under the ROR ID 02rqdr293, GRID ID grid.471551.3, ISNI 0000000096248043, and Ringgold ID 13534.
- **Authority Control**: The Library of Congress assigns the authority ID n2010019512, while the German National Library data is linked via the GND system (inferred from class context). The National Diet Library (NDL) Authority ID is 00883106.
- **Regional and Academic IDs**: The institute holds a KISTI ID (K000213401) and multiple CiNii Research IDs (1140282266731608960, 1140282266596700672, 1140845216779196672).
- **Administrative IDs**: Within Japan, it is assigned the Corporate Number 9050005005205.
- **NACIS CAT Author IDs**: The entity is associated with the identifiers DA18283313, DA18283302, and DA01405347.

### Nomenclature and Aliases
The institute is recognized by several names in different contexts and languages. Its primary aliases include 国土交通省建築研究所, 建設省建築研究所, and the abbreviated form 建研. These variations reflect its historical evolution and administrative oversight, likely indicating transitions from the Ministry of Construction (建設省) to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (国土交通省).

### Online Presence and Media
The Building Research Institute maintains an official website at http://www.kenken.go.jp/, which serves as a primary portal for its activities and publications. In the realm of open knowledge and media, the institute has a dedicated category on Wikimedia Commons titled "Building Research Institute (Japan)" and is the subject of a Wikipedia article in Japanese (ja). An associated image file, "Building_Research_Institute_in_Tsukuba.jpg," is hosted on Wikimedia Commons, providing visual documentation of the facility.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. CiNii Research
3. ROR release v1.19
4. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions