Located in Seoul’s historic Gwanghwamun district—home to major cultural landmarks including Gyeongbokgung Palace, government offices and corporate headquarters—the KT West Building has long served as a significant architectural presence and the headquarters of KT Group, one of South Korea’s leading telecommunications companies. Originally constructed in 1986, the prime-grade office tower spans 72,843 sq m (238,986 ft). By the mid-2000s, however, the building began to show performance decline associated with aging building systems.
Strict zoning regulations governing building height and total floor area limited traditional redevelopment. Instead of demolishing the structure, the project team pursued a full-scale remodel, allowing the building to achieve even greater usable space and interior height than the newer KT East tower next door. Completed in 2025 after a four-year renovation, the project transformed the building into a mixed‑use destination and the operational center of KT’s AI transformation strategy.
Today, the revitalized headquarters integrates open public areas, premium food and beverage spaces, and improved connectivity to both the KT East Building and Gwanghamnun Subway Station. The result is a vibrant urban hub for both employees and the surrounding community. To support the modern workplace environment envisioned for the redevelopment, an underfloor air distribution (UFAD) system was installed across office zones on floors 4–14.
When the renovation shifted from redevelopment to remodeling, engineers and designers initiated a comprehensive evaluation of the building’s aging HVAC infrastructure.
Several key challenges quickly surfaced.
First, the building’s inconsistent floor‑to‑floor heights—4.8 m (16 ft) on lower floors and just 4.0 m (13 ft) on upper floors. Achieving modern open office ceilings of 2.8–3.0 m (9-10 ft) would be extremely difficult using conventional overhead air systems.
Second, the project schedule required that interior tenant fit‑out changes be completed within just three months of building completion, demanding a system capable of accommodating rapid layout changes.
Finally, KT Group sought to position the building as a top‑tier prime office environment. This involved a large-scale renovation, including the relocation of the building’s core. Because of this significant work, the project required superior indoor air quality, excellent occupant comfort, and minimal operational disruptions. These requirements led the team to explore UFAD as the leading HVAC solution.
Following a competitive bidding process that included computational fluid dynamics (CFD) validation and extensive design reviews, Truman Co., Ltd., a Korean distributor of AirFixture products, secured the project. Their proposal demonstrated how UFAD could achieve architectural goals while meeting demanding engineering and performance standards.
The interior design vision for the KT West building drew inspiration from global technology workplaces emphasizing creativity, collaboration, and flexible work styles. A global technology leader now occupies part of the building, reinforcing its position as an innovation‑driven workplace.
To support this design philosophy, AirFixture and Truman Co., Ltd. engineered a UFAD solution capable of adapting to free‑address seating, diverse collaboration spaces and non‑uniform furniture layouts.
Extensive coordination with the architectural and interior design teams ensured that airflow paths would not conflict with furniture or spatial constraints. This was particularly critical given that the existing structural frame was preserved and the building core was relocated, resulting in substantial MEP layout changes.
Upper floors presented particularly tight clearances and ventilation routing challenges. Maintaining the client’s requirement of a minimum 2.8 m (9 ft) ceiling height required precise optimization of both supply and return air paths to preserve airflow balance and system efficiency.
Because workstations were flexible and thermal loads varied significantly throughout the day, the team selected compact variable air volume (VAV) units capable of responding dynamically without causing draft discomfort.
Despite strict interior design standards, the project team secured sufficient open return areas to maintain stable stratified airflow. The result was a cohesive integration of engineering performance and architectural quality, a hallmark of the building’s successful transformation.
The completed KT West Building now stands as one of Korea’s premier examples of UFAD performance in a large‑scale office remodel. Engineering achievements are visible in the increased ceiling heights, improved spatial openness and enhanced indoor environmental quality across floors 4 through 14.
A notable performance outcome emerged after occupancy. Due to scheduling constraints, the building opened without undergoing a conventional volatile organic compound (VOC) bake‑out procedure, commonly used to remove construction-related emissions before occupancy.
On floors equipped with UFAD, the system’s natural stratified airflow directed contaminants upward to return plenums, enabling occupants to move in immediately without discomfort, headaches, or VOC‑related issues. In contrast, floors using conventional ceiling-based systems continued to exhibit VOC odors and occupant complaints for months after the remodel, reinforcing the measurable advantages in UFAD ventilation effectiveness.
The project has attracted substantial attention within Korea’s commercial real estate and engineering communities. As KT Group’s third successful UFAD installation with Truman Co., Ltd. and AirFixture, the project serves as a high‑impact reference for organizations seeking flexible, high‑performance HVAC environments. KT continues to report excellent operational comfort and reliable air‑conditioning performance, reinforcing the long‑term value of the UFAD system.
Through advanced engineering, interdisciplinary coordination, and a commitment to workplace quality, AirFixture helped transform the KT West building into world‑class headquarters that improves comfort, supports productivity and sets a new benchmark for prime office environments in Seoul.