Songdo IBD is a business city currently under development on the west coast of South Korea, 65 kilometers from Seoul and 12 kilometers from Incheon International Airport.
The metropolis, a joint venture between Gale International and POSCO, will cost 35 billion euros and be completed in 2015. Conceived as a model of a sustainable city, its 100 million square meters will house offices, commercial spaces, residential areas, hotels, a civic center, and a cultural district. It will be able to accommodate a permanent population of 75,000 people and provide more than 300,000 jobs.
Some of the master plan’s landmarks include the Northeast Asia Trade Tower, a state-of-the-art corporate center that, with its 68 floors and height of 305 meters, stands as the tallest building in Korea; the iconic Songdo Convensia, the main convention center in the Incheon metropolitan area and the region’s largest column-free open space; 2,500,000 square meters of parks, including Central Park, a true green lung for the city; the Incheon Arts Center, which houses an auditorium, a museum of contemporary Asian art, a conservatory, a design school, and a library; a golf course and sports center; and numerous international educational institutions.
The Songdo IBD project is drawing the most attention for its commitment to the environment. It represents a milestone in urban planning and sets a new standard for sustainability in building design, engineering, infrastructure, and the comprehensive planning of each sector. It is the first project outside the United States to receive LEED certification—an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design—not only for its architectural design but also for its innovative urban concept.
