HOK’s team joined South Korea President Park Geun-hye, LG Group chairman and executives, and hundreds of guests to unveil the design and break ground for a new 11.8 million-sf research and science campus in Seoul.
This will be the largest research complex in western Seoul and the center for LG’s next-generation research and development. Located in Seoul’s Magok District, the LG Science Park provides facilities to support innovative research and industrial prototyping.
When it is complete, employees from 10 different LG business groups will move to the landscaped urban campus. HOK designed phase one of the master plan and six of the laboratory and office buildings totaling 8 million sf.
“Based on the wide range of science accommodated and the emphasis on sustainable design, the new LG Science Park will be a unique campus in the global research community,” said Larry Malcic, HOK’s Director of Design in London. “The architecture, planning, and landscaping reflect the LG brand by being innovative and rational, elegantly simple and beautifully detailed.”
Planned around the company’s vision for highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research, LG Science Park provides flexible buildings and laboratories for virtually every type of science. HOK’s design provides high-quality facilities that will attract and retain leading research scientists from across the world. The design encourages communication and collaboration among LG’s business units.
A public greenway bisects the site from north to south, connecting the campus to a public park. The master plan also creates a new linear park running east to west through the site, forming extensive swaths of greenery and encouraging public access to the parks.
Intersecting the parks at the heart of the campus is an Integrated Support Center (ISC) housing shared campus facilities. Designed for LEED Platinum certification, the ISC features a welcome center, LG exhibition and conference spaces, sports and recreation facilities, a children’s nursery, a VIP suite, and offices.
Each LG business unit has its own main entrance and lobby. Building elevations are framed with natural stone and in-filled with glass and stainless steel panels to create a variety of facade treatments that provide views to the parks and minimize solar gain. In the lower ground level, under the linear park, a dining facility accommodating 11,000 people links buildings and shared facilities. A three-level basement provides a connecting service corridor, support spaces, a central utility plant and parking for 4,200 cars.
Sustainable design strategies for the LG Science Park include self-shading facade treatments and the use of innovative technologies, such as algae panels and footfall harvesting to generate power. Flat roof surfaces accommodate photovoltaic panels and vegetated roofs, while ground-source heat pumps provide heating and cooling.
HOK provided architecture, interior design, laboratory planning, landscape architecture, master planning and urban design services. HOK worked in association with Korean practices Gansam Architects, Chang-Jo Architecture and LG Toyo Engineering; engineering consultants WSP (structural and civil engineering); and Vanderweil Engineers (mechanical, electrical and plumbing services).
Related Stories
| Dec 28, 2014
The future of airport terminal design: destination status, five-star amenities, stress-free travel
Taking a cue from the hospitality industry, airport executives are seeking to make their facilities feel more like destinations, writes HOK's Richard Gammon.
| Dec 28, 2014
10 key design interventions for a healthier, happier, and more productive workplace
Numerous studies and mountains of evidence confirm what common sense has long suggested: healthy, happier workers are more productive, more likely to collaborate with colleagues, and more likely to innovate in ways that benefit the bottom line, writes Gensler's Kirsten Ritchie.
| Dec 28, 2014
7 fresh retail design strategies
Generic ‘boxes’ and indifferent service won’t cut it with today’s savvy shoppers. Retailers are seeking a technology-rich-but-handmade vibe, plus greater speed to market and adaptability.
| Dec 28, 2014
Workplace design trends: Make way for the Millennials
Driven by changing work styles, mobile technology, and the growing presence of Millennials, today’s workplaces are changing, mostly for the better. We examine the top office design trends.
| Dec 28, 2014
AIA: Commercial glass façade and door systems
When it comes to selecting fenestration systems—particularly glass facades and door systems—a number of factors come into play, requiring a thorough evaluation of a project’s individual requirements.
| Dec 28, 2014
10 essential habits of successful architects
Want to take the next step as a design processional? John Gresko, Senior Project Architect with HDR, explores the traits that many great architects possess.
| Dec 28, 2014
10 unglamorous things architects do
An acquaintance recently asked me about the kinds of things I did on a day-to-day basis at work, anticipating a response loaded with enviable activities. She was wrong, writes HDR's John Gresko.
| Dec 28, 2014
New trends in ceiling designs and materials [AIA course]
A broad array of new and improved ceiling products offers designers everything from superior acoustics and closed-loop, recycled content to eased integration with lighting systems, HVAC diffusers, fire sprinkler heads, and other overhead problems. This course describes how Building Teams are exploring ways to go beyond the treatment of ceilings as white, monolithic planes.
| Dec 27, 2014
7 ways to enhance workplace mobility
The open work environment has allowed owners to house more employees in smaller spaces, minimizing the required real estate and capital costs. But, what about all of their wireless devices?
| Dec 27, 2014
'Core-first' construction technique cuts costs, saves time on NYC high-rise project
When Plaza Construction first introduced the concept of "core first" in managing the construction of a major office building, the procedure of pouring concrete prior to erecting a steel frame had never been done in New York City.
