Construction of Gangdong-gu Disabled Comprehensive Welfare Center Gains Momentum

Final Selection of Design Competition Winner on the 24th, Construction to Start by Year-End After Detailed Design Service, Completion Targeted for December 2023... Creating an Inclusive Welfare Center for Both Disabled and Non-Disabled Residents as a Welcoming City

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Gangdong-gu (Mayor Lee Jeong-hoon) is moving forward with the construction project of the “Gangdong-gu Public Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled,” which aims to provide comprehensive welfare services for the disabled, including rehabilitation treatment.

In January, the district held a design competition for the public comprehensive welfare center for the disabled to be located at 741 Olympic-ro (Cheonho-dong), the area centered around Cheonho and Amsa, where the disabled population is the largest. Fifteen entries were received, and the winning design was selected on March 24.

The final winning design is “A Welfare Center for the Disabled Open to the City” by Sumbi Architects. The design features an open low-rise section with a community garden and a book caf?, creating a space where local residents naturally gather and where disabled and non-disabled people can interact.

Additionally, the open low-rise area includes spaces where disabled individuals can safely get on and off vehicles, as well as outdoor resting areas on every floor that serve various functions.

The design was highly praised for its meticulous consideration of accessibility and safety for mobility-impaired individuals, and it also attracted attention for being an eco-friendly zero-energy building designed to minimize energy consumption.

The welfare center is scheduled to begin construction at the end of this year after detailed design work in April.

With a total floor area of 4,553㎡, the building will have three basement levels and six above-ground floors. It will include facilities such as an aquatic rehabilitation exercise room, book caf?, multipurpose rehabilitation treatment rooms, fitness rooms, temporary care rooms, an auditorium, and a public parking lot, creating spaces that accommodate both disabled and non-disabled users. Completion is expected in December 2023.

To ensure convenience for disabled users, the project will pursue Barrier-Free certification and zero-energy building certification, including green building and energy efficiency ratings of 1++.

Lee Jeong-hoon, Mayor of Gangdong-gu, stated, “Once the Gangdong Public Comprehensive Welfare Center for the Disabled is established, accessibility to welfare services for disabled residents in the Cheonho, Amsa, and Seongnae areas will greatly improve. This center will become a key space that expands all areas of disability welfare services and fosters a happy Gangdong where disabled and non-disabled people live together harmoniously.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.