[Edaily Reporter Lee So-Hyun ] LG Uplus(032640)is teaming up with GS Engineering & Construction Corp., Zai C&A, and others to develop a standard model for prefabricated modular data centers (PMDCs) aimed at shortening the construction time for AI data centers (AIDCs). The plan is to address the rapidly growing demand for AI infrastructure through a collaborative framework that encompasses the entire lifecycle—from design and construction to operation.

LG Uplus announced on the 6th that it signed a “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Establishment of the PMDC Alliance” with GS Engineering & Construction Corp., Zai C&A, Gansam Architects & Partners, and D&O CM at the Pyeongchon Mega Center in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 4th. The signing ceremony was attended by Hong Beom-sik, CEO of LG Uplus; Yoon Hong Huh, CEO of GS Engineering & Construction Corp.; Kim Wook-soo, CEO of Zai C&A; Park Mu-chan, Managing Director of Gansam Architects & Partners; and Lee Young-ho, CEO of D&O CM, among others.

PMDC is a data center construction model that standardizes architectural structures, power systems, and cooling equipment, pre-manufactures them in a factory, and then assembles them on-site. This approach reduces construction time and enhances quality consistency compared to traditional on-site construction methods. Another advantage is the ability to flexibly expand infrastructure in response to changes in demand.

With the recent proliferation of generative AI driving rapid growth in demand for data centers that operate high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) on a large scale, the ability to supply the necessary infrastructure in a timely manner has emerged as a key competitive factor in the industry. LG Uplus has embarked on developing the PMDC model to ensure rapid deployment, flexible scalability, and operational efficiency.

Simultaneous Review of New Construction and Retrofit Models

Since April, LG Uplus and the participating companies have been jointly developing a standard model to apply PMDC to actual AIDC projects. Focusing on a 100MW hyperscale PMDC model, the participating companies reviewed both a new construction model and a retrofit model—which converts existing buildings into data centers equipped with AI infrastructure.

Through this agreement, the companies will formalize their cooperative framework and specify PMDC designs and technical specifications tailored to the domestic environment. They will also lay the groundwork for applying the verified standard model to various AIDC projects.

Roles have also been assigned. LG Uplus will be responsible for defining PMDC operational standards and technical requirements, establishing business directions, and validating models, drawing on the experience it has accumulated through the construction and operation of data centers nationwide and the Paju AIDC. The company plans to implement a standard model that takes operational efficiency into account from the design stage onward, incorporating the know-how gained from maintaining 99.999% uninterrupted operation in Korea for 27 years.

GS Engineering & Construction Corp will leverage its experience in building large-scale data centers and its on-site execution capabilities to conduct constructability reviews, optimize processes, and provide EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) capabilities for the new PMDC model. Zai C&A will be responsible for developing the retrofit model and optimizing power and cooling systems, drawing on its experience in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) installations.

Gansam Architects & Engineers will establish a standard PMDC design model based on its expertise in data center-specific design. D&O CM will provide project management and construction management (CM) capabilities.

“Creating a Model Applicable to Actual AIDC Projects”

This alliance is significant in that it brings together companies spanning the entire lifecycle of data center design, construction, and operation. The goal is not a one-off collaboration, but rather the joint development of a standardized PMDC model and the application of this validated model to actual AIDC projects.

LG Uplus plans to enhance the sophistication of the PMDC model by combining the LG Corp.’s AIDC deployment capabilities with the design and construction expertise of external specialized firms. The company intends to actively utilize this model in future AIDC deployments to shorten construction time and improve operational efficiency, while simultaneously strengthening the Group’s competitiveness in the AIDC business.

Hong Beom-sik, CEO of LG Uplus, stated, “In the AI era, the core competitiveness of data centers lies in the ability to build the necessary infrastructure in a timely manner to meet rapidly changing customer demands.” He added, “This PMDC Alliance represents a consolidation of capabilities by specialized companies in the fields of AIDC design, construction, and operations, with the goal of applying these capabilities to actual projects.”

He added, “We will create a PMDC model with world-class competitiveness and continue to strengthen our capabilities in building next-generation AIDCs.”