Fire-Resistant Design for the Unique Façade Concept of HD Hyundai Global R&D Center

The HD Hyundai Global R&D Center (GRC) serves as both the research facility and headquarters of HD Hyundai, a company rooted in the shipbuilding and steel industries. Reflecting this identity, the building features H-shaped steel beams as structural and architectural elements. A distinct design aspect is the placement of major structural members, including columns and beams, 750 mm inward from the façade to enhance visual depth. To preserve the exposed steel aesthetic, a performance-based fire-resistant design was implemented, eliminating the need for fireproof coatings on exterior members. This approach maintained architectural intent and reduced maintenance demands. The GRC is the first building in South Korea to apply this fire-resistance strategy to a steel frame. Advanced structural technologies were also employed, including concrete-filled tube columns, steel-concrete composite systems, elastic buckling analysis, optimized steel plate beams, and 3D scanning during construction. This paper presents the core design and construction techniques used in the GRC, offering a reference for future architectural applications of steel structures.