▲ Establishes core infrastructure for the digital era based on optimal construction strategies and differentiated solutions 

▲ Holds titles for the construction of the largest and most specialized data centers in Korea, with global-standard capabilities

Hyundai E&C is taking the lead in establishing a core base for the expansion of the digital ecosystem through its ongoing construction of data centers.

Hyundai E&C announced on November 24th that it has successfully completed the K Square Data Center Gasan, which consists of three basement levels and eleven above-ground floors in Gasan-dong, Geumcheon-gu, Seoul. This project, an investment and development by Koramco Asset Management that began construction in July 2022, is an urban data center with a total floor area of 40,1214 m², where advanced facilities are clustered onto a compact site, flanked by existing buildings on two sides and a railway line on another.

A data center is a building packed with ultra-precise equipment and heavy machinery to ensure a stable supply of power, and is subject to the highest standards of structural safety and seismic design, corresponding to an importance level of 'Critical' or 'Level 1'¹⁾ . For the K Square Data Center Gasan, which is adjacent to the all-important Gyeongbu railway line, construction methods and technologies were introduced to maximize structural safety in the event of a seismic event and ensure the operational stability of the equipment. These include a reinforced concrete (RC) structure, which substantially reduces vibration, and a seismic event resistance system using a slurry wall for the underground structure.

In addition, construction time constraints were overcome by applying the Strut-Top-Down (STD) method, where struts are installed to support the retaining wall, allowing for the simultaneous execution of underground excavation and both above-ground and underground framework construction. Hyundai E&C focused on securing the data center's sustainability by enhancing energy efficiency and resolving heat issues through a high-efficiency cooling system, real-time energy monitoring, and natural pre-cooling technology.

Amid the rapid growth of the data center market, driven by the expansion of the AI industry and cloud services, Hyundai E&C is securing a market and technological advantage by providing a differentiated total solution. Through its Pre-Construction Service (PCS), the company participates in the entire process from the project planning and design stages to propose customized construction strategies that comprehensively consider the client's requirements and the specific characteristics of the data center. This service extends to the proposed construction period and cost, as well as mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems.

Starting with the Korea Financial Telecommunications & Clearings Institute's Bundang Center in 2004, Hyundai E&C has constructed more data centers than any other Korean construction company, including the KT Mokdong IDC, the NH Integrated IT Center, the KB Financial Group’s Kookmin Bank Integrated IT Center, and Naver's GAK Sejong Data Center. It is also the only company to have built a data center for a global big-tech corporation, thereby demonstrating its global-standard technological prowess and expertise.

A Hyundai E&C official commented, “With our unrivaled expertise, which spans the entire process from design and construction to commissioning²⁾, we are bolstering the reliability of the data center construction market, thereby increasing our competitiveness in securing orders and simultaneously working to expand related businesses.” The official added, “Moving forward, we will devote all our efforts to laying the foundation for simultaneously realizing the establishment of a digital ecosystem and eco-friendly energy innovation by building customized data centers powered by the main energy sources of each region and introducing a Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-based power supply system to enthusiastically work towards a sustainable energy infrastructure.”

1) A data center designated as ‘Importance (Critical)’ refers to one with a total floor area of 1,000 square meters or more that is owned or operated by the national or local government. This also includes data centers for which the national or local government has delegated or entrusted authority or operations related to their establishment or management. All other data centers are classified as Importance (Level 1) in consideration of the importance of managing and utilizing various types of data, such as public health information and financial information.

2) The work involves verifying, by way of individual and integrated testing, whether all components, devices, and facilities installed in the data center, including mechanical, electrical, communications, and fire protection systems, meet the requirements of the designer, client, and end user, and whether they function properly and deliver optimal performance