GS E&C

GS Engineering & Construction (GS E&C) has taken a major step toward the era of “LEGO-style” modular apartments, leveraging its experience and technological expertise in modular housing.

The company announced that, together with its subsidiary GPC (GS Precast Concrete), it has completed the construction and performance verification of a mock-up apartment made entirely of precast concrete (PC) components at GPC’s plant site in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do.

This mock-up project focused on overcoming the limitations of conventional reinforced concrete (RC) construction methods by utilizing off-site construction (OSC) technology, presenting a new paradigm for the housing market. Unlike traditional RC methods—which require on-site casting and are affected by weather and worker skill levels—the PC method assembles factory-made concrete elements such as columns, beams, and slabs on site, ensuring consistent quality and faster construction.

The mock-up consists of 59m² and 84m² four-bay apartment layouts, designed to be applicable for high-rise buildings exceeding 30 stories. All structural components were prefabricated at GPC’s factory and assembled on site, with complete verification conducted for mechanical, electrical, and interior/exterior finishing works. The structure incorporates GS E&C’s patent-pending PC joint reinforcement technology, which enhances durability and quality while significantly reducing on-site workload and improving safety.

Performance tests—including floor impact noise, waterproofing, insulation, heating, and airtightness—confirmed that the PC-built apartment achieved equal or higher residential performance compared to conventional cast-in-place RC apartments. One of the key advantages of PC construction is the absence of internal columns and the 100% use of dry wall systems, allowing residents to freely modify interior layouts according to their lifestyle preferences.

Since 2020, GS E&C has been actively promoting the adoption of off-site construction methods to minimize on-site work by establishing GPC for PC production and XiGEIST, a subsidiary specializing in timber modular housing. GPC’s Eumseong plant, completed in 2021, produces 160,000 cubic meters of PC annually and supplies products for diverse projects, including underground parking structures, logistics centers, and semiconductor facilities.

Building on the success of this mock-up, GS E&C plans to lead transformation in the multi-family housing market through innovative technologies such as PC construction and modular housing. These technologies will be gradually applied to GS E&C’s premium residential brand “Xi”.
A GS E&C official stated “Precast concrete technology is at the core of future construction, offering both quality and efficiency. Through continuous innovation and application, we will create safer and more sustainable residential environments.”