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
Coronavirus | May 20, 2022
Center for Green Schools says U.S. schools need more support to fight COVID-19
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council released a new report detailing how school districts around the country have managed air quality within their buildings during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regulations | May 20, 2022
Biden’s Clean Air in Buildings Challenge aims to reduce COVID-19 spread
The Biden Administration recently launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge that calls on all building owners and operators, schools, colleges and universities, and organizations to adopt strategies to improve indoor air quality in their buildings and reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Building Team | May 20, 2022
Caltech breaks ground on a new center to study climate and sustainability
The California Institute of Technology (Caltech) recently broke ground on its Resnick Sustainability Resource Center.
Laboratories | May 20, 2022
Brutalist former Berkeley Art Museum transformed into modern life science lab
After extensive renovation and an addition, the former Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive at the University of California, Berkeley campus reopened in May 2022 as a modern life science lab building.
Sports and Recreational Facilities | May 19, 2022
Northern Arizona University opens a new training center for its student athletes
In Flagstaff, Ariz. Northern Arizona University (NAU) has opened its new Student-Athlete High Performance Center.
Energy-Efficient Design | May 19, 2022
Shipping containers used to build Research Triangle Park’s first community gathering space
Shipping containers were the prominent building material used to construct Boxyard RTP, the first public community and gathering place in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park (RTP).
Mixed-Use | May 19, 2022
Seattle-area project will turn mall into residential neighborhood
A recently unveiled plan will transform a 463,000 sf mall into a mixed-use destination site in the Seattle suburb of Bellevue, Wash.
Architects | May 19, 2022
The art and trade of architectural photography, with Brad Feinknopf
Longtime architectural photographer Brad Feinknopf discusses his craft and helping AEC firms realize their visions photographically. Feinknopf also touches on the evolution of photo shoots and the role of technology in architectural photography.
Codes and Standards | May 19, 2022
JLL launches non-profit aiming to mitigate climate change
Real estate and investment management firm JLL recently launched JLL Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to making a long-term impact on environmental sustainability.
Office Buildings | May 19, 2022
JLL releases its 2022 Office Fit Out Guide
JLL’s 2022 Office Fit Out Guide report provides benchmark costs to build out a range of office types across major markets in the United States and Canada.
