Sokcho City Social Welfare Center Set to Become an Eco-Friendly, High-Efficiency Welfare Space

Selected for Green Remodeling Signature Project
National Funding Secured, Design Competition Launched
Aging Social Welfare Center to Become Eco-Friendly Energy Landmark
Results to Be Announced on June 16

With the selection of the Sokcho City Social Welfare Center as the target site for the 2025 Public Building Green Remodeling Signature Project and the securing of national funding, Sokcho City in Gangwon Province will now actively pursue a design competition to upgrade the aging welfare facility into an eco-friendly and high-efficiency public building.

A panoramic view of Sokcho City Hall.

This project targets the Sokcho City Social Welfare Center (296 Cheongchohobann-ro). The project will apply eco-friendly technologies such as insulation reinforcement, high-efficiency heating, cooling and ventilation systems, LED lighting, and solar panels to the existing building, which has a total floor area of 1,010.14 square meters. The total estimated construction cost is KRW 2.74 billion, and the estimated design fee is KRW 203.23 million.

In particular, this project is significant not only as a simple facility upgrade but also because the Sokcho City Social Welfare Center was selected for the national Public Building Green Remodeling Signature Project and secured national funding. From the early planning and design stages, the city has conducted a comprehensive review of the building's aging status, energy performance, structural safety, user movement flow, and spatial utilization.

Based on these reviews, Sokcho City plans to specify the design competition requirements with a focus on energy-saving exterior design, improvements to the interior spaces of resident convenience facilities and the large conference room, seismic performance reinforcement, and construction cost reduction strategies.

The design competition is being conducted as a "proposal-based competition." Between April 22 and April 28, a total of 18 teams registered their participation, reflecting high interest in the project. The city held a site briefing for the registered companies, and participating companies will submit their proposals by May 28, after which a review will be conducted and the results will be announced on June 16.

The competition will primarily evaluate energy-saving exterior design, improvements to the resident convenience facilities on the first floor and the large conference room on the second floor, seismic performance reinforcement, and construction cost reduction strategies. In addition, in line with the purpose of the Signature Project, at least one leading technology must be incorporated, and the goal is to achieve Zero Energy Grade 4 or higher.

Based on the winning proposal, Sokcho City will proceed with basic and detailed designs, commence construction, and aims to complete the project by December 2027.

Upon completion, the energy efficiency of the aging social welfare center is expected to improve significantly, and structural safety reinforcements, expanded fire safety systems, and upgraded accessibility facilities for persons with disabilities will greatly enhance user safety and convenience.

A Sokcho City official stated, "This project is a meaningful achievement, as the Sokcho City Social Welfare Center was selected for the 2025 Public Building Green Remodeling Signature Project and secured national funding. Through a fair design competition, we will select an outstanding design and create a safe and comfortable eco-friendly welfare space that citizens can truly experience."

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