Old Gyeonggi Provincial Government Building Transformed into Social Innovation Space "Follow"

The former Annex 2 of the old Gyeonggi Provincial Government building in Paldal District, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, will be transformed into the social innovation space "Follow."

On October 30, Gyeonggi Province announced that on November 1, it will open the former Annex 2 of the old provincial government building as "Follow," an open platform space where social economy organizations such as social enterprises, cooperatives, and social ventures can move in, collaborate, and network.

The space practices ESG by installing 152 color solar panels with a total capacity of 25kW (covering 240 square meters) on the entire exterior wall of the building.

This facility combines power generation with artistic design, serving as a public art piece that generates energy by absorbing sunlight during the day and creates a soft glow on the exterior wall at night through lighting.

The electricity produced here is used for shared power within the building, and an additional solar power system with a capacity of approximately 30kW is also in operation on the rooftop.

Exterior view of the social innovation space Follow

Of the building's eight floors, the basement level features a citizen-participatory exhibition, performance, and conference space, while the first and second floors are dedicated to social innovation exhibitions and experiential areas, which are open for anyone to visit freely.

The third to sixth floors serve as workspaces for social economy organizations, startups, and accelerators, while the seventh and eighth floors house the Gyeonggi Social Economy Center, which operates Follow and provides on-site support.

The final 18 tenant companies were selected through an open call process by October of this year.

Gyeonggi Province plans to provide essential infrastructure, including consulting on finance, legal affairs, and management required at each stage of business growth, as well as opportunities for tenant companies to share growth strategies and network with one another.

Gong Jeongsik, Director-General of the Social Innovation Economy Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, said, "The color solar panels are an example of simultaneously achieving energy savings and aesthetic value, demonstrating that public buildings can evolve into new platforms for the local community and the environment."