HOK won an international competition to design this new 1.85-million-sq.-ft. landmark office building in downtown Seoul.
The new Global Engineering Center provides a high-tech work environment that is flexible to change over time with Samsung’s business needs. Two office towers rise above a three-story podium structure that contains meeting and dining facilities, as well as the Samsung company museum.
HOK’s design creates a highly sustainable workplace. Fresh air ventilation is delivered through a pressurized cavity floor with chilled ceiling systems for cooling and radiant systems for heating. All building systems are controlled by an automated digital network system that measures and monitors outdoor weather conditions, indoor environmental conditions and market energy costs. The system makes continuous adjustments to maximize building efficiency while minimizing energy consumption.
The design harvests daylight for the interior by using a tunable external light shelf system. This reduces solar heat gain in the summer and maximizes solar warming during winter months. All roof surfaces feature lush roof gardens available for employees and visitors.
These sustainable design strategies reduce the building’s energy consumption by an estimated 40 percent.