Seminar Showcase: Industry Giants Gather to Discuss Mass Timber potential in Korea’s Apartment Building Sector
Korea recently witnessed a landmark event in its construction and architectural sector—the first-ever seminar on wooden apartments. This event held at 2024 Korea Wooden Building Expo in Suwon gathered 180 people. Participants discussed the evolving landscape of construction technologies and materials, and the potential to apply wood in taller buildings.
The seminar was organized as a collaborative effort between the Architectural Institute of Korea (AIK) and the Korea Institute of Building Construction (KIC), both of which are key partners of Canada Wood Korea over the years. It brought together a diverse group of key participants, including leading architectural and construction firms, government officials, public institutions, and academia. Notable keynote speakers from the LH Research Institute, the Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology (KICT), the National Institute of Forest Science (NIFoS), and Dankook University shared their insights, focusing on the technological advancements and research in wood frame and mass timber construction.
The event highlighted the burgeoning wooden apartment building sector in Korea, a market traditionally dominated by steel and concrete. The shift towards wood, particularly through mass timber construction, will open up new avenues for sustainable and environmentally friendly building practices. This transition is timely, as Korea’s recent building code updates facilitate the exploration and adoption of tall wood mass timber buildings. Such changes are not only a display of the evolving construction norms but also reflect a growing demand for sustainable residential solutions.
AIK and KIC stand at the forefront of this transformative journey. Their involvement underscores the synergy between Korean architectural prowess and Canadian wood products, paving the way for future collaboration in market promotion, research, and technical development. This partnership is envisioned to foster a robust platform for the exchange of knowledge and resources, promoting the use of Canadian wood in Korea’s expanding apartment sector.
Through collaborative efforts with organizations like AIK, KIC, and Canada Wood Korea, the country is poised to explore new construction methodologies that align with global sustainability goals and the growing demand for eco-friendly living spaces.