[Run Again K Construction] Sweeping Remodeling with 'Customized Technology'

Exterior view of Gaepo The Sharp Tree in Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Photo by POSCO E&C)

[Asia Economy Reporter Tae-min Ryu] POSCO Engineering & Construction is accelerating the development of customized construction technologies for remodeling projects. Based on this, the company has achieved the remarkable feat of surpassing a cumulative remodeling project order volume of 7 trillion KRW, recording the highest number of orders in the industry.

Remodeling projects are considered a realistic housing environment improvement method because their project duration is shorter than that of reconstruction. They can secure seismic resistance and structural safety equivalent to new construction, as well as eco-friendly and energy-saving capabilities, making it possible to safely and efficiently upgrade aging and unstable buildings.

Since 2012, POSCO Engineering & Construction has been preparing to enter the remodeling market. A key part of this preparation was securing remodeling design and construction technology capabilities and specialized personnel. Since 2014, the company has won remodeling projects for a total of 32 apartment complexes worth 7.4 trillion KRW. This represents the highest level of orders achieved in the industry.

POSCO Engineering & Construction’s strength lies in safety. Due to the nature of remodeling work, only parts of the existing building are demolished, and the remaining structure is repaired and reinforced to be structurally integrated with the newly added horizontal and vertical extensions. POSCO Engineering & Construction reviews demolition plans through BIM simulations starting from the demolition work, verifies the safety of the remaining structures, and carries out repair and reinforcement work. To ensure construction quality at the connection points with the existing building, the company continuously measures actual construction dimensions using 3D scanning technology rather than relying on drawing figures, builds as-measured BIM models, and strives to minimize errors.

The high-rigidity foundation reinforcement pile technology is also a key to enhancing stability. This technology efficiently distributes the increased load on the existing foundation caused by vertical and horizontal extensions. For underground parking construction, the company applied the top-down method using steel columns to ensure structural safety and to proceed simultaneously with upper-level construction. To integrate the existing slab with the new slab, chemical anchors and carbon fiber sheets are used, and the wall connection parts are reinforced firmly with chemical anchors and thickness-direction additional layers.

POSCO Engineering & Construction possesses design and construction technologies related to the demolition and reinforcement of load-bearing walls that function as columns. Leveraging safer demolition, reinforcement, and temporary facility construction capabilities, the company has safely carried out remodeling projects such as Gaepo Tree, completed in December 2021, as well as ongoing projects at Songpa Seongji and Dunchon Hyundai apartments.

POSCO Engineering & Construction also shows strengths in comfort and cost-effectiveness. The company developed a new and old slab connection method that structurally strengthens the connection by creating interlocking serrated grooves and connecting them with connectors made of steel plates, reducing construction time and costs.

Since previous apartments targeted for remodeling only installed sprinklers on floors above the 16th floor, ceilings may be lowered in some areas during remodeling. POSCO Engineering & Construction created recessed ceilings in main living spaces such as living rooms and bedrooms to secure ceiling height so that the space does not feel cramped. Additionally, necessary fire safety and ventilation facilities were incorporated to ensure safety in case of fire.

The company also effectively reduced heavy impact noise caused by people jumping. The ultra-thin finishing integrated low-frequency sound-absorbing material technology made from POSCO steel has a thin thickness, minimizing the impact on ceiling height even when installed on ceilings or walls.