LG Uplus will work with GS Engineering & Construction, Xi C&A, and others to develop a standard model for a prefabricated modular data center (PMDC). As demand for data centers grows with the spread of artificial intelligence (AI), the goal is to create a model that can shorten build times and keep design and construction quality consistent.
LG Uplus said on the 6th that on the 4th it signed a "business agreement to build a PMDC alliance" with GS Engineering & Construction, Xi C&A, Gansam Architects & Partners, and D&O CM at the Pyeongchon Mega Center in Anyang, Gyeonggi. Attending the signing were LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-Shik; GS Engineering & Construction CEO Huh Yoon-hong; Xi C&A CEO Kim Uk-soo; Gansam Architects & Partners Managing Principal Park Moo-chan; and D&O CM CEO Lee Young-ho.
PMDC standardizes building structures and power and cooling systems, prefabricates them in factories, and assembles them on-site. Compared to traditional on-site–centric data center construction, it can reduce construction time and is relatively easier to scale facilities step by step according to demand.
Since April, the participating companies have jointly reviewed a standard model to apply PMDC to an actual AI data center (AIDC) project. The main targets are a new-build model for a 100MW hyperscale data center and a retrofit model that converts existing buildings into data centers.
The agreement will also clarify each company's role. LG Uplus will set operating standards and technical requirements based on its experience building and operating data centers, and will oversee business direction and model validation. GS Engineering & Construction will leverage its experience constructing large data centers to handle constructability and process optimization for the new-build model. Xi C&A will participate in developing the retrofit model based on its experience in MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) fields such as power and cooling. Gansam Architects & Partners will handle standard design, and D&O CM will handle project management and CM.
The participating companies plan to combine the capabilities needed across the entire data center build process—from design and construction to operations and project management—to develop the standard model and apply it to actual projects going forward.
LG Uplus CEO Hong Bum-Shik said, "In AI data centers, the ability to build the necessary infrastructure in a timely manner to match customer demand is becoming more important," and added, "We will develop PMDC models with corporations in design, construction, and operations to strengthen competitiveness in building AIDCs."