▴ Expanding key medical facilities, including breast and thyroid cancer centers, to strengthen cancer care ▴ Connected to the existing Building B to strengthen links between testing, treatment and therapy facilities ▴ Universal Outpatient Design applied with both patients and medical staff in mind Key guests pose for a commemorative photo at the groundbreaking ceremony for Saeam Hospital at Korea University Guro Hospital. ⓒGansam The groundbreaking ceremony for Saeam Hospital at Korea University Guro Hospital, designed by Gansam, was held on September 22. The hospital will rise on the site of Parking Lot No. 1 at Korea University Guro Hospital in Guro-gu, Seoul, with nine basement levels and six floors above ground and a gross floor area of 30,458㎡, and is targeted for completion by the end of 2029. Saeam Hospital is Phase 2 of the hospital master plan that Korea University Guro Hospital has pursued since 2019. Phase 1, Future Hall, was completed in 2022. Following Future Hall, Gansam took on the design of Saeam Hospital. Overall view of Korea University Guro Hospital. Saeam Hospital will be built on the site of the existing Parking Lot No. 1 and was planned so that it can operate in an integrated manner with the existing hospital. ⓒGansam A defining feature of the project is that the cancer center currently located in the existing Building B will be relocated to and expanded in Saeam Hospital, and the two buildings will be connected so that testing, treatment and therapy for cancer patients flow closely together. To this end, alongside the new Saeam Hospital, remodeling designs for the existing Building A and Building B were also carried out. Saeam Hospital will house key medical facilities linked to cancer care, including a Breast Cancer Center, a Thyroid Cancer Center, a colonoscopy room and a chemotherapy infusion room. The cancer hospital outpatient area on the second floor applies Universal Outpatient Design, in which multiple clinical departments share consultation and examination rooms. Space can be used flexibly according to treatment demand, making it convenient for both patients and medical staff. The chemotherapy infusion room and the Breast and Thyroid Cancer Center are located on the third floor. The chemotherapy infusion room increases its number of beds while maintaining its functional link with the chemotherapy compounding room in Building B. The Breast and Thyroid Cancer Center was designed with expanded consultation and examination rooms to improve its functions over the existing facility. Perspective of Saeam Hospital at Korea University Guro Hospital. The connection with the existing Building B was also planned as part of a single building and designed with a hidden curtain wall to secure a sense of openness. ⓒGansam The exterior takes harmony with the existing hospital into account. By carrying the vertical design elements of Future Hall into the horizontal façade composition of Building A and Building B, hospital buildings built in different periods are visually connected. The projecting horizontal bands and ribbon windows reflect the design of Building A and Building B. Between the horizontal bands are vertical louvers that carry on the vertical design of Future Hall. The arc-shaped louvers control the sunlight entering the interior, while the shadows that change with the direction of the sun add depth to the exterior. “Cancer patients undergo multiple tests and treatments after diagnosis, so continuity in moving between medical facilities and in the course of care is important,” said Taesang Lee, Director of Healthcare Design at Gansam, who led the design. “For Saeam Hospital, we planned patient circulation around the connection with the existing hospital and organized the spaces so that medical staff can provide care efficiently.” Meanwhile, Gansam operates its Healthcare Design division, an organization specializing in healthcare facilities. It has designed numerous healthcare facilities, including the Yonsei Cancer Hospital Heavy Ion Therapy Center, Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital and Konyang University New Hospital. Saeam Hospital, Korea University Guro Hospital · Use: Medical Facility (General Hospital) · Location: 148 Gurodong-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul · Building Area: 2,118㎡ · Gross Floor Area: 30,458㎡ · Floors: B9, 6F · Scheduled Completion: End of 2029 · Design: Gansam

▴ A 50-bed hospital with one basement level and seven floors above ground in Wonju Enterprise City — scheduled for completion in March 2028 ▴ The main hospital handles severe and emergency care, while the second hospital takes on outpatient care, health screenings and everyday essential care ▴ Circulation designed from on-site interviews and healing gardens — improved accessibility through links to public transit Key guests prepare for the ceremonial groundbreaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the second hospital of Wonju Yonsei University Health System. ⓒGansam The second hospital of Wonju Yonsei University Health System, designed by Gansam, held its groundbreaking ceremony on September 14 at the project site in Gagok-ri, Jijeong-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon State, beginning full-scale construction. The second hospital will have a site area of 17,983㎡ and a gross floor area of 11,964㎡, with one basement level, seven floors above ground and 50 beds. It is scheduled for completion in March 2028 and, after about three months of trial operation, is expected to begin full operation in June of the same year. Perspective of the second hospital of Wonju Yonsei University Health System. A vertical pattern expressing the hospital’s identity is applied to the façade, and the building is positioned so that it can be easily recognized from the intersection. ⓒGansam From Prevention to Specialized Care within the Region — Accessibility Secured through Public Transit Links Through the second hospital, Wonju Yonsei University Health System plans to build a ‘regionally self-sufficient healthcare system’ in which care continues within the region, from prevention and health management to specialized treatment. The second hospital will take on outpatient care, health screenings and everyday essential care, while the main hospital, a tertiary hospital, will concentrate its capacity on treating severe and emergency patients in the province. The second hospital will be located close to the daily lives of residents of the Enterprise City and the Jijeong-myeon and Munmak-eup areas, where access to medical facilities has been relatively limited. During the permit consultation process, Gansam incorporated a bus stop and a taxi stand so that patients without a car can also reach the hospital by public transit. Interviews with 16 Departments over Two Months — Refining the Design by Coordinating On-site Needs During planning, Gansam spent two months interviewing staff from 16 departments — including the health screening and endoscopy centers, purchasing and logistics, surgery, central supply, radiology, nutrition, patient administration, general affairs and the inpatient wards — reviewing the movement paths of patients and medical staff, the connections between departments and the flow of logistics. As a result, the hospital was divided vertically by function. Outpatient care and health screening are placed on floors 2 to 4, and surgery and inpatient functions on floors 5 and 6, minimizing the crossing of paths between outpatient visitors and inpatients. The hospital building and the annex were planned as structures that can be expanded to respond to future changes in medical demand. Registration and Tests on a Single Floor, an Outpatient Area Seen at a Glance — A Layout Centered on User Experience On the first floor, the lobby is brought together with patient administration, laboratory and pharmacy functions so that registration, payment and blood tests can all be completed on a single floor. The outpatient area on the second floor is organized around a central atrium spanning two floors, so that visitors can see at a glance where they need to go as soon as they enter, and the waiting areas are generous enough not to feel cramped even when patients sit with a caregiver. The radiology department on the third floor connects directly to the outpatient floor, and its circulation was planned around the flow from imaging tests to endoscopy. The health screening center on the fourth floor secures the area and facilities for a demand of about 120 screenings per day and applies dedicated screening circulation. The main waiting areas are placed by the windows to bring in natural light, and the gynecology area is separated from the other screening spaces to strengthen privacy. An Indoor Courtyard beside the Wards, a Rooftop Garden for Medical Staff — Landscape as Part of Recovery The fifth floor will house the surgical department, the sixth floor the inpatient wards and an indoor courtyard, and the seventh floor the staff cafeteria and a rooftop garden. The indoor courtyard is placed on the same floor as the wards so that inpatients can experience nature without leaving the ward. The rooftop garden is linked to the staff cafeteria and planned as a place of rest for medical staff. This reflects research showing that the hospital environment affects patients’ recovery and the workload of medical staff. In 1984, American environmental psychology researcher Roger Ulrich published findings that patients recovering from surgery in rooms with a window view of trees had shorter hospital stays and used fewer painkillers than patients whose rooms faced a wall. Since then, in the field of evidence-based design (EBD), physical environments that reduce the stress of medical staff have also been treated as a factor directly linked to the quality of care. A Garden Open 24 Hours and a First-Floor Café — A Place for Everyday Life, Not a Hospital Visited Only When Sick The second hospital also puts effort into lowering the threshold of the hospital for local residents. A garden open to anyone 24 hours a day is being created, and a café and lounge on the first floor allow people to stay whether or not they are receiving treatment. The intent is to use the hospital not merely as a medical facility but as a public space that local residents visit in their daily lives. Gansam expects these everyday points of contact to help improve access to healthcare. “Before it is a building, a hospital is a small city where many people gather and come and go,” said Taesang Lee, Director of Healthcare Design at Gansam. “From the very beginning, we considered how patients, caregivers and medical staff would experience the space, and what kind of relationship the hospital would form with the region.” He added, “A hospital is a growing building that begins to change the moment it is completed. We will faithfully bring Gansam’s experience and expertise in healthcare design to this project so that the second hospital is completed as a healthcare hub trusted by local residents and a hospital that grows together with the region.” Meanwhile, Gansam has continued to design healthcare facilities centered on the patient experience. At the Yonsei Cancer Hospital Heavy Ion Therapy Center, Korea’s first heavy ion cancer treatment facility, it created a sunken court in the underground treatment area so that patients can encounter light and nature. Gansam has also designed numerous healthcare facilities ranging from general hospitals to specialty hospitals, including Chung-Ang University Gwangmyeong Hospital, Konyang University New Hospital and The Catholic University of Korea, Eunpyeong St. Mary’s Hospital.

▴ Following the 1994 original design, Gansam also led the remodeling — carrying forward and reinterpreting the spatial value of the existing architecture ▴ The oceanfront experience extends to the lobby, lounge, dining and a 100m infinity pool The main entrance of Sheraton Jeju. Following the original design in 1994, Gansam returned more than three decades later to design the remodeling. ⓒGansam Sheraton Jeju, remodeled to a design by Gansam, held its grand opening on September 14. Sheraton Jeju is a project in which Gansam remodeled, more than three decades on, a hotel it had originally designed in 1994. It carries forward the spatial value and sense of place of the existing building, while reconfiguring the spatial structure and the experience of stay for changed travel patterns and hospitality environments. The remodeling began from what had changed over those three decades — the environment around the hotel and the way it is used. The large atrium of Sheraton Jeju before the remodeling. It was the heart of the existing hotel, creating an environment of stay like a vertical city within. ⓒGansam At the time of the original design in 1994, the northern coast of Jeju was strongly affected by high winds and irregular weather. Gansam placed a large atrium inside a building some 200 meters long and organized the guest rooms and various programs around it. It was an ‘Atrium Hotel,’ planned so that activities could continue through all four seasons while reducing the influence of the outdoor environment. The environment around the hotel then changed. Along the Tapdong coast, which once had to contend with strong winds, waves and repeated overtopping, a breakwater about 1.1 kilometers long was built in 2020 to reduce overtopping damage. The way travelers come to Jeju has changed as well. Where group tours and MICE demand were once the main market, tourism on Jeju is now being reorganized around independent travel. According to the Jeju Tourism Organization’s 2025 survey of visitors to Jeju (‘2025년 제주 방문관광객 실태조사’), 96.8 percent of domestic visitors and 91.9 percent of international visitors came as independent travelers. In response to these changes, Gansam retained the spatial value of the existing atrium while extending the spatial experience — which had faced inward — toward the sea of Jeju. The 100-meter infinity pool newly created along the Jeju sea. The oceanfront experience, once concentrated in the guest rooms, now extends across the hotel’s shared spaces and the whole course of a stay. ⓒGansam The orientation of the spaces was turned so that the Jeju sea, previously viewed mainly from the guest rooms, can also be experienced in the main shared spaces including the lobby, lounge and dining areas, and a 100-meter infinity pool was newly created along the water. The value of the oceanfront, once concentrated in the guest rooms, now extends across the whole course of a stay — arriving at the hotel, staying, dining and resting. As a result, Sheraton Jeju has changed from an ‘Atrium Hotel,’ which created a city-like environment of stay inside the building, into an ‘Oceanfront Hotel’ that draws the Jeju sea into the center of the hotel experience. “I believe good remodeling is not about erasing the existing architecture, but about selecting the values that remain valid over time and connecting them to the next era,” said Hyosang Lee, architect at Gansam. “We inherited the existing atrium-centered structure, while newly connecting the shared spaces and the circulation of stay so that the Jeju sea can be experienced naturally throughout the hotel.” Gansam has continued to take on remodeling projects that reinterpret the value and potential of existing architecture. It recently served as the local design partner for Centre Pompidou Hanwha, which reconfigured an annex of the 63 Building into a multi-purpose cultural complex, and has carried out a range of remodeling projects across hotels, offices and cultural facilities, including Mondrian Seoul Itaewon, The Plaza Hotel and Hanwha Jangyodong Office.

Sheraton Jeju Hotel has officially reopened following an extensive renovation. The newly transformed spaces unfold through a sequence of sea and city views,  creating a stay that brings guests closer to the essence of Jeju. From the sweeping horizon framed by the lobby to the 100-meter infinity pool stretching toward the sea,  discover a renewed experience of Jeju and its coastline.     Watch this video on Gansam’s YouTube channel

▴ Developing a hyperscale PMDC with LG Uplus, GS E&C, Xi C&A and D&O CM ▴ New-build and retrofit models developed in parallel — shorter construction periods, consistent quality and scalability Executives of Xi C&A, GS E&C, LG Uplus, D&O CM and Gansam at the signing ceremony for the PMDC Alliance. ⓒLG Uplus Gansam is developing a standard design model for the Pre-fabricated Modular Data Center (PMDC), a method aimed at improving the construction speed and scalability of AI data centers (AIDC). On September 4, Gansam signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of the PMDC Alliance with LG Uplus, GS E&C, Xi C&A and D&O CM at LG Uplus Pyeongchon Mega Center in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province. The signing ceremony was attended by the chief executives of the five participating companies. The agreement was pursued to establish a PMDC standard model that shortens the construction period of AI data centers while securing consistent quality and future scalability. As AI semiconductor and server technologies advance, the power density and equipment requirements of data centers are changing rapidly. This has increased the importance of standardized and modular approaches that accelerate initial construction while responding flexibly to changes in technology and demand. PMDC is a construction method in which building structures and power and cooling systems are standardized, pre-fabricated at factories, and then assembled and installed on site. Compared with conventional on-site construction, it reduces the construction period and on-site risks, improves quality consistency, and makes it easier to expand facilities in stages as demand changes. Officials from the PMDC Alliance member companies tour LG Uplus Pyeongchon Mega Center. ⓒLG Uplus   The participating companies will develop a 100MW hyperscale PMDC, covering both a new-build model for greenfield sites and a retrofit model that converts existing buildings into AI data centers. Drawing on experience from more than 80 data center design projects, Gansam will develop PMDC standard design modules and design solutions optimized for AI data centers. At the site review stage, the firm will take charge of site-specific master planning and permitting, and will support the application of the PMDC model through design optimization. LG Uplus will define operational standards and technical requirements, set the business direction and verify the model. GS E&C will provide constructability reviews, process optimization and EPC capabilities for the new-build model, while Xi C&A will develop models utilizing existing buildings and optimize power and cooling. D&O CM will support overall construction management (CM). By combining their expertise in design, construction, operation and CM, the participating companies plan to establish a PMDC standard model that can be applied to a wide range of sites and business conditions. Muchan Park, President of Gansam, said, “For AI data centers, what matters is not only the speed of initial construction but also the flexibility to continuously expand and respond to changes in technology and demand,” adding, “We will develop the data center design experience Gansam has accumulated into a PMDC standard design model and help build an infrastructure foundation that can meet industry demand.”

▴ Forum explores the changing landscape of stay and hospitality under the theme ‘A space that has become the destination, not the backdrop of a journey’ ▴ Sheraton Jeju presented as a case of reinterpreting an ‘Atrium Hotel’ into an ‘Oceanfront Hotel’ Poster for Host Architect Forum 2026, the opening program of the 18th Seoul International Architecture Film Festival. ⓒKIRA Hyosang Lee, architect at Gansam, will join Host Architect Forum 2026 as a panelist on September 5, sharing insights on changing hospitality spaces and new experiences of stay. Hosted by KIRA as part of the 18th Seoul International Architecture Film Festival, the forum carries the theme ‘Stay — A space that has become the destination, not the backdrop of a journey.’ It examines how accommodation has moved beyond being a facility required along the way, to a point where the experience of staying itself becomes the purpose of travel — discussed from the perspectives of architecture, space planning and operations. Lee will present the repositioning of Sheraton Jeju under the title ‘The Evolution of Our Own Heritage : Sheraton Jeju (1994-2026).’ Sheraton Jeju, set to open this September, was remodeled by Gansam — the firm that designed the original building more than three decades ago. The remodeling carries forward the spatial value and sense of place of the existing architecture, while repositioning the hotel’s spatial experience and identity for changed travel patterns and hospitality environments. The atrium, a symbol of the vertical city within. It was the heart of Sheraton Jeju before the remodeling. ⓒGansam The original design began with its setting on the northern coast of Jeju and the island’s irregular maritime climate. A curved exterior evoking a moored passenger ship was wrapped with deck-like terraces, and an atrium of urban scale was placed inside a building some 200 meters long. It created an all-weather space independent of the weather, while the sea remained something to be viewed through guest room windows. The 100m infinity pool created through the remodeling. The value of the oceanfront, once concentrated in guest rooms, now extends across the entire stay. ⓒGansam The repositioning focused on reorganizing the relationships between the sea and the city, and between people and space. The atrium-centered ‘inward-oriented spatial structure’ was turned into an ‘outward-oriented spatial structure’ that extends the spatial experience toward the sea and nature of Jeju, and the value of the oceanfront — once concentrated in the guest rooms — was extended across the lobby, lounge, dining and pool. As a result, the building changed from an ‘Atrium Hotel,’ a vertical city within, into an ‘Oceanfront Hotel’ that faces outward and becomes the destination of a journey. “In the original design, the sea was an object to be viewed. Now what was needed was a shift toward a program in which coming and staying itself becomes the destination of the journey,” Lee said. “It is a work that reinterpreted space and program on a continuity of time rather than a break from it.” Lee has carried out design projects centered on hospitality and leisure. His major works include ▴MONDRIAN SEOUL ITAEWON ▴Gravity Seoul Pangyo ▴Local Stitch Creator Town Seogyo ▴Sheraton Jeju, and he received IDEA 2024 for the movable modular ‘Tiny Resort.’ Host Architect Forum 2026 takes place at 2 p.m. on September 5 at the Grand Auditorium of Ewha Womans University. Younggyu Shim, architecture PD at Project Day, moderates, with panelists Hyosang Lee of Gansam, Kyungrok Noh, co-principal of Z_Lab, and Seokhun Kim, creative director of Studio Eccentric. Further details are available on the official channels of the Seoul International Architecture Film Festival. Registration is available through Naver Smart Store. Related Coverage (in Korean) [대한경제] 간삼건축 이효상 건축가, 국제건축영화제서 ‘호텔의 진화’ 조명 [세계일보] 간삼건축 이효상 건축가, 서울국제건축영화제서 호텔 공간 변화 조명 [국토일보] 간삼건축 이효상 건축가, ‘호스트 아키텍트 포럼 2026’서 호스피탈리티 공간의 변화 제시 Host Architect Forum 2026 · Date: 2 p.m., September 5, 2026 · Venue: Grand Auditorium, Ewha Womans University · Host: KIRA (18th Seoul International Architecture Film Festival program) · Theme: Stay — A space that has become the destination, not the backdrop of a journey Official Forum PageRegister

In a new environment, with unfamiliar work and systems encountered for the first time, new employees meet new questions every day. “Where do I begin?” “Who should I ask?” “Can I do this well without making mistakes?” Thirteen new employees at Gansam look back on their first six months and share the moments of growth they found in their own place. Seniors who explain the reasoning and background behind a decision, not just the answer. Colleagues who connect their experiences to build better answers together. And a process of understanding the work and the organization more broadly through training, mentoring and job rotation. The tension of an unfamiliar first day slowly turns into ease, and varied experience becomes the confidence for the next challenge. Hear what Gansam’s new employees have to say. Architecture that leads our lives and the landscape of the city in a better direction. If you would like to walk that path with us, begin at Gansam. Apply for 2027 Recruitment →Application period: Aug 14 – Aug 21, 2026, 6:00 PM (KST)

▴ Shares AI transformation (AX) cases of a design organization, from BIM policy to in-house AI research groups ▴ Strengthening design competitiveness by connecting internal data… "Gansam AI Integrated Platform" to launch in September Hyuk Lee, Principal of the Innovation Division at Gansam, speaks on "The Future of Data as an Asset" at Design & Make Summit Korea 2026, held on July 15 at The Westin Seoul Parnas. ⓒGansam Hyuk Lee, Principal of the Innovation Division at Gansam, took part as a speaker at Design & Make Summit Korea 2026, held on July 15 at The Westin Seoul Parnas. Hosted by Autodesk Korea, Design & Make Summit Korea brings together business leaders shaping the future of industry. This year's program centered on three keywords: data, AI, and convergence. The summit addressed how data is evolving into a core asset that connects decision-making and collaboration within organizations, how AI is establishing itself as a collaborative partner in creative problem-solving, and how the convergence of manufacturing and construction with the digital and physical worlds is becoming a reality. Under the theme "The Future of Data as an Asset," Lee introduced a design organization's experiments in AI transformation and Gansam's own approach. Lee said that corporate competitiveness in the age of AI depends on how well an organization converts the experience and data it accumulates into assets. Using AI in design practice has already become part of everyday work. Lee noted that around half of the staff in the design studio use AI. Still, he drew a line between having more tools and changing the way people work. The "data as an asset" he describes means gathering the experience and data scattered across individuals and the organization into a form that can be used again. The details that emerge during a project, the context behind design decisions, and the experience of responding to clients are largely tied to individuals. Original data such as drawings, BIM models, and project records is dispersed across the company. His proposal is to standardize and accumulate both, turning them into organizational knowledge assets that can be searched and reused. Gansam's way of handling AI follows the same direction. It does not stop at using AI as a simple chatbot or an image-generation tool. It treats AI as a means of shortening the flow that runs from planning through modeling to drawings. Attendees watch the presentation on Gansam's improvements to its design process. ⓒGansam This direction has already taken shape in internal systems and organizations. Examples include in-house policies and training for the shift to BIM-based design, a dedicated team that raises drawing completeness in the early stages of design, the adoption of cloud-based collaboration tools such as Miro, and AI research groups centered on the in-house technology exchange program "G-Tech Day." Rather than consuming technology at the level of individual tools, the approach seeks to change the design productivity and collaborative structure of the organization as a whole. Its significance lies in not separating the adoption of tools from the change in how people work. Hyuk Lee explains the virtuous cycle in which the exchange of value among members leads to design quality and organizational growth. ⓒGansam Lee said, "No matter how far AI advances, changing tools alone does not amount to innovation," adding, "The final judgment on what to choose and why still belongs to people, and when that judgment is shared and developed together, individual capability expands into the assets of the organization and the quality of design rises as well." Meanwhile, Gansam holds in-house AI seminars and knowledge-sharing sessions on a regular basis to raise its members' understanding and use of AI. The company is also developing the "Gansam AI Integrated Platform," led by its dedicated in-house AI research organization. The platform is currently in beta testing, with an official launch scheduled for September 2026. The aim is to connect internal data and tools that have been scattered into a single system, strengthening design competitiveness. Design & Make Summit Korea 2026 · Date: July 15, 2026 · Venue: The Westin Seoul Parnas · Host: Autodesk Korea · Key themes: Data · AI · Convergence · Speaker: Hyuk Lee, Principal, Innovation Division, Gansam · Topic: The Future of Data as an Asset

▴ A design shaped after Korea's mountains — a cultural landmark bringing together exhibitions, performances, and rest ▴ Waterfront cultural spaces to open in phases from the second half of 2026, with full completion targeted for 2030 The awards ceremony for the 2025 Architectural Design 30, Selected by Seoul Citizens, was held on June 23 at Taepyeong Hall, Seoul City Hall. ⓒGansam Nodeul Global Art Island, designed by Gansam and Heatherwick Studio, has been named the best work in the public architecture category of the 2025 Architectural Design 30, Selected by Seoul Citizens (2025 서울 시민이 뽑은 건축디자인 30선). The program selects outstanding designs from among the projects reviewed by Seoul's architecture committees over the course of a year. Experts first shortlist ten candidates in each of three categories — general architecture, multi-family housing, and public architecture — and the final ranking is determined by combining the results of a public vote. Nodeul Global Art Island is a project to transform the whole of Nodeulseom into a cultural and artistic space where exhibitions, performances, and rest come together. At its core is the idea of returning the island to citizens in full — the entire ground level, the waterfront, and the air above — where only the western portion had been open. Main aerial view of Nodeul Global Art Island. The design centers on "expanding public experience over the Hangang River, a platform connecting the city and the river." ⓒMIR & Heatherwick Studio The design concept is "SOUNDSCAPE," which shapes patterns drawn from the sounds of nature and live music into the form of Korea's mountains. Resembling waves of sound, the form responds to Seoul's skyline and the outlines of the surrounding mountains, connecting the scenery of mountain, water, and island in a poetic way. The project consists of the Sky Art Garden and the waterfront cultural spaces. The Sky Art Garden is an elevated walkway linking free-form, petal-shaped spaces inspired by Seoul's seven major mountains. It offers layered views of the sunset over the Hangang River and the city beyond. For the waterfront cultural spaces, work is under way to create an ecological garden and a play garden, and to repave the aging riverside walkway. Gap stairs connecting the ground level and the waterfront are also planned, improving access for citizens and offering a wider range of experiences for those who stay. Gansam, together with Heatherwick Studio and POSCO, reviews a mock-up of the free-form curved stainless steel to be used on the soffit beneath the elevated garden. September 2025. ⓒGansam Nodeulseom draws attention for its engineering as well as its design. Beneath the Sky Art Garden is a free-form soffit — the underside structure of the canopy — combining curved and asymmetrical geometry, which calls for high-precision fabrication, advance technical verification, and close coordination between structural analysis and construction technology. Existing structures are preserved as far as possible, and structural columns are placed at pinpoint locations to minimize interference with the existing environment. The waterfront cultural spaces will open to citizens in phases from the second half of 2026. The Sky Art Garden is in design development and is scheduled to break ground within the year. The project as a whole is due for completion in 2030. The Seoul Metropolitan Government said that "Nodeul Global Art Island is a project that goes beyond building a cultural facility to create a future-oriented public space where nature and art coexist," adding that it will "continue to communicate with citizens and reflect expert opinion to make Nodeulseom a cultural and ecological asset to pass on to future generations, and a global landmark representing Seoul." Kyonam Chin, CDO of Gansam, said, "This award is all the more meaningful because it came not only from expert review but from citizens voting for the project themselves," adding, "It recognizes both Heatherwick Studio's design imagination and Gansam's technical capability in realizing it, and we will answer that expectation responsibly by completing a place that people come to love in their daily lives." The 30 selected works, including Nodeul Global Art Island, are available to read free of charge in the 2025 Excellent Design Collection. Nodeul Global Art Island- · Use: Cultural and assembly facilities, Class 1 & 2 neighborhood living facilities · Location: 302-146 Ichon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul · Site area: 60,818.40㎡ · Gross floor area: 11,808.70㎡ · Scale: 4 floors above ground, 1 below (elevated section: 2 floors above ground) · Maximum height: 54.84m · Building coverage ratio: 41.06% · Floor area ratio: 19.25%   · Architects: Gansam · Heatherwick Studio   · Design team   Taesung Kim, Kyonam Chin, Heekyung Choi, Seunghan Lee, Cheonro Kim, Joonseo Sohn,   Hojik Seo, Ulyong Moon, Hayan Kim, Yongsoo Kim, Jaechul Lim, Hajung Shin,   Minsung Hwang, Hansol Ji, Billy Tan Choo Khee, Younghwan Ryu, Kangin Choi, Minjoo Park,   Haneol Kwon, Wonjun Woo, Jieun Na, Seonghun Jeong, Seungwan Cho, Jinwoo Baek,   Donghyeon Kim, Eunchong Park  

ARiC 1st recruit Archi RiseCamp   2026 K-New Deal Academy Gansam  ×  Junglim  ×  Heerim Three of Korea's leading architecture firms, together ARiC : Archi Rise Camp — 1st Cohort Recruitment Application Period Jun 22 – Jul 19 Capacity 40 trainees Tuition Fully Free Apply Now → Eligibility Unemployed youth interested in—or exploring a career in—architecture, spatial, or digital design,aged 15 to 34 · Excludes enrolled students, students on leave, and employment-insured workers · Prospective graduates who can obtain a certificate of expected graduation may apply · Those on a long-term leave of absence of one year or more may apply Program Overview Course Name [Gansam × Junglim × Heerim] ARiC (Archi Rise Camp) 1st Training Period Jul 27 – Nov 13, 2026 Application Period Jun 22 – Jul 19, 2026 Results Announcement Jul 20, 2026 Capacity 40 trainees Curriculum Professional Architecture Process Practice  Hospitality, Healthcare, Smart Office & Residential Digital Transformation — Fundamentals  Rhino 8, D5 Render Digital Transformation — Advanced  AI, Grasshopper Integrated Architecture Project (PBL) Mentoring by Industry Professionals Beyond-the-Job Training  Strengths & Leadership, Spatial Branding & Data Structuring, Modular & Lighting, Architecture Firm Tours, Site Visits, Electives, Orientation, Completion Ceremony Training Hours 09:00 – 18:00 Excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays* Some project sessions may run past 18:00 Venue KCCI Cheonan Technology Training Center 345 Bongjeong-ro, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do View on Naver Map → Benefits Tuition fully free No self-payment, unlike KDT programs Training allowance up to KRW 500,000/month Payable when attendance and other requirements are met Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) What kind of program is ARiC?+ ARiC (Archi Rise Camp) is an architecture-industry-focused youth talent development program jointly operated by Gansam, Junglim, and Heerim. Through architectural design practice, digital architecture technology, and project-based learning (PBL), it cultivates future architects with practical, job-ready skills. How much is the tuition?+ Tuition is completely free. Unlike KDT programs, there is no separate self-payment. Is there an allowance during the program?+ Trainees who meet attendance and other payment requirements may receive a training allowance of up to KRW 500,000 per month. Eligibility and detailed criteria may vary by individual circumstances, so please refer to the separate guidance provided after final selection. Do I need a Tomorrow Learning Card (Naeil Baeum Card)?+ No. ARiC is a K-New Deal Academy program, so you can apply regardless of whether you hold a Tomorrow Learning Card. Can I apply even if I've taken a K-Digital Training (KDT) course before?+ Yes. You may apply to ARiC even if you have previously taken a K-Digital Training (KDT) course. Anyone who meets the other eligibility requirements can apply. Can I apply if I didn't major in architecture?+ ARiC welcomes unemployed youth aged 15–34 who are interested in architecture, spatial, or digital design, regardless of major. The program runs step by step from fundamentals to practice, so even those new to architecture can take part. Are enrolled or on-leave students ineligible?+ As a rule, enrolled students and students on leave cannot apply. However, those who can obtain a certificate of expected graduation may apply. Please confirm whether your school can issue such a certificate per its regulations. In addition, those on a long-term leave of absence of one year or more may be eligible, so please contact the operating office for details. What is the selection process?+ After applications close, a document review is conducted, and an online (non-face-to-face) interview may follow if needed. Final successful applicants will be announced on July 20, 2026, and the detailed schedule may change depending on recruitment circumstances. Do I need to prepare any equipment to attend?+ Laptops and software required for the training are provided on-site. The training laptops come pre-installed with MS Office, Rhino 8, D5, and other necessary programs, so you can take part without purchasing any equipment or software. Where is the training venue?+ The ARiC 1st cohort training takes place at the KCCI Cheonan Technology Training Center (345 Bongjeong-ro, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do). · About a 10-minute walk from Dujeong Station (Line 1), Exit 1 · About 10 minutes by subway from Cheonan-Asan Station (KTX·SRT) · About 10 minutes by bus from Cheonan Express Bus Terminal The venue is easily accessible by public transit, and detailed directions will be provided separately to final successful applicants. View on Naver Map → How to Apply Scan the QR or link and complete the Naver form  ·  Application period: Jun 22 – Jul 19, 2026 Apply Now → Gansam  ×  Junglim  ×  Heerim  |  2026 K-New Deal Academy ARiC