World's largest 3D printed construction project commences in Qatar
The project involves the construction of 14 public schools, including two built using 3D printing technology, each with a built-up area of 20,000 square meters — totalling 40,000 square meters. This is 40 times larger than the largest 3D-printed building constructed anywhere in the world to date. The two schools are designed as two-storey buildings on plots measuring 100 by 100 meters each, making this project an unprecedented model for future-ready educational infrastructure in Qatar and across the region.
To realize this unprecedented scale, UCC Holding commissioned COBOD, the world leader in 3D construction printing based in Denmark, to supply two customized BODXL printers, each measuring 50 meters long, 30 meters wide, and 15 meters high—roughly the size of a Boeing 737 hangar—making them the largest construction printers in the world.
Following extensive preparation—including site development, equipment assembly, and operational simulations—printing operations have officially begun. UCC Holding has assembled a dedicated 3D construction team consisting of architects, civil engineers, material scientists, and printer technicians. Over the past eight months, this team conducted over 100 full-scale test prints using a BOD2 printer at a dedicated trial site in Doha, developing concrete mix designs, validating performance under local climate conditions, and engineering a custom print nozzle to ensure precision and smooth extrusion.
In May 2025, the team completed intensive training alongside COBOD engineers, covering printer operation, print sequencing, structural layering strategies, and live quality control. This milestone marks a major leap in Qatar's local capacity for advanced construction technology, solidifying its role as a regional hub for innovation and engineering.
Compared to conventional construction methods, 3D printing offers multiple environmental, social, and economic advantages. It significantly reduces raw material waste and minimizes concrete usage, cutting carbon emissions. On-site printing also reduces transport needs, mitigates supply chain risks, and accelerates project delivery. With operations scheduled at night to avoid high temperatures, the process also ensures better concrete performance while reducing dust and noise.
Architecturally, the schools are inspired by the natural desert formations of Qatar, with curved, flowing walls resembling sand dunes. This design is only made possible by the geometric freedom that 3D printing offers—enabling organic, parametric forms that would be difficult or cost-prohibitive using traditional construction methods.
The schools are expected to be completed by the end of 2025, reinforcing Qatar's global leadership in sustainable development, innovation, and next-generation public infrastructure.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Al Jazeera
Builders of Boeing weapons and fighter jets go on strike
Thousands of workers at Boeing plants across the United States that develop military aircraft and weapons have gone on strike. The strike began Monday at Boeing facilities in St Louis and St Charles, Missouri, as well as Mascoutah, Illinois, after failed negotiations over wage increases and other provisions of a new contract. About 3,200 local members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted Sunday to reject a modified four-year labour agreement, the union said. 'IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe,' Sam Cicinelli, the general vice president of the union's Midwest division, said in a statement. 'They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise.' The vote followed a weeklong cooling-off period after the workers rejected an earlier proposed contract, which included a 20 percent wage increase over four years and $5,000 ratification bonuses. Boeing warned over the weekend that it anticipated the strike after workers rejected its latest offer, which did not further boost the proposed wage hike. However, the proposal removed a scheduling provision that would have affected workers' ability to earn overtime pay. 'We're disappointed our employees rejected an offer that featured 40 percent average wage growth and resolved their primary issue on alternative work schedules,' said Dan Gillian, Boeing Air Dominance vice president and general manager, and senior St Louis site executive. 'We are prepared for a strike and have fully implemented our contingency plan to ensure our non-striking workforce can continue supporting our customers.' Boeing's Defense, Space & Security business accounts for more than one-third of the company's revenue. But Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg told analysts last week that the impact from a strike by the machinists who build fighter jets, weapons systems and the US Navy's first carrier-based unmanned aircraft would be much less than a walkout last year by 33,000 workers who assemble the company's commercial jetliners. 'The order of magnitude of this is much, much less than what we saw last fall,' Ortberg said. 'So we'll manage through this. I wouldn't worry too much about the implications of the strike.' The 2024 strike shut down Boeing's factories in Washington state for more than seven weeks at a bleak time for the company. Boeing came under several federal investigations last year after a door plug blew off a 737 Max plane during an Alaska Airlines flight in January. The Federal Aviation Administration put limits on Boeing plane production that it said would last until the agency felt confident about manufacturing quality safeguards at the company. The door-plug incident renewed concerns about the safety of the 737 Max. Two of the planes crashed less than five months apart in 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people. Ortberg told analysts that the company has slowly worked its way up to an FAA-set 737 Max production cap of 38 per month and expects to ask regulators later this year for permission to go beyond it. Last week, Boeing reported that its second-quarter revenue had improved and its losses had narrowed. The company lost $611m in the second quarter, compared to a loss of $1.44bn during the same period last year. Boeing's stock tumbled on the news of the strike. Trending downwards earlier in the day, it has since been trending upwards, but is still below the market open by 0.26 percent as of 12:30pm ET (16:30 GMT).
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
BA owner sees profit jump on ‘strong' demand
Agencies IAG, the owner of British Airways and Spanish carrier Iberia, said Friday that its net profit jumped 44 percent in the first six months of the year on 'strong demand'. Profit after tax came in at 1.3 billion euros compared with 905 million euros in the first half of 2024, IAG said in a statement. Group revenue increased eight percent to 15.9 billion euros in the January-June period, 'reflecting strong demand for our network and brands', it added. The company, which in May announced a multi-billion-dollar order for Boeing and Airbus planes, owns also Spanish carrier Vueling and Irish airline Aer Lingus. 'Our strong performance in the first half of 2025 reflects the resilience of demand for travel,' IAG chief executive Luis Gallego said in Friday's statement. 'We continue to benefit from the trend of a structural shift in consumer spending towards travel,' he added. IAG expressed confidence 'in delivering good earnings growth' for the full year, 'whilst being mindful of the ongoing uncertainty that may result from the geopolitical and macroeconomic backdrop'. Shares in the group initially jumped following the update, before showing a loss of 0.9 percent on London's benchmark FTSE 100 index, which was down overall in morning deals as investors tracked developments over US tariffs. IAG 'shares have had a turbulent time more recently, weighed both by geopolitical uncertainty as well as fears that travel to the US would be impacted in reaction to its decision to declare a trade war on many countries', Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor, said Friday. 'However... while there has been some pressure of late on economy flights to the (United) States, the strength of its premium cabin offering has more than offset any weakness.' IAG said the group's total passenger revenue grew 5.6 percent to 13.8 billion euros in the first half. The earnings were impacted by a £40-million ($53-million) hit to BA after a fire at an electrical substation forced a shutdown at London's Heathrow Airport in March. The airline meanwhile in June cancelled flights between Heathrow and some Middle East destinations following US strikes on Iran. Heathrow, Europe's busiest hub by passenger numbers, unveiled Friday a £49-billion expansion plan, including the costs of building a long-awaited third runway, approved by the UK government after years of legal wrangling. The commercial aviation sector has recovered from the turbulent COVID years when airlines were forced to ground planes, triggering a sector-wide jobs cull. Consumers are meanwhile prioritizing leisure travel following the pandemic lockdownsand despite big jumps to air fares in recent years as overall inflation soared.
Qatar Tribune
7 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Boeing workers threaten strikes as union rejects contract offer
Agencies Members of a union representing workers who assemble fighter jets at two Boeing facilities rejected the company's proposed new contract Sunday, opening the door for possible strikes. 'IAM Union members delivered a clear message: the proposal from Boeing Defense fell short of addressing the priorities and sacrifices of the skilled ... workforce,' the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) said in a statement. More than 3,200 union members employed at Boeing facilities in the Midwestern states of Missouri and Illinois rejected the company's contract to the union, their contract was set to expire at the end of the day on Sunday. The workers in IAM branch 837 will go on strike if no deal is reached with the aerospace giant in the next seven days. The move could deal a serious blow to the company, after a seven-weeklong walkout by Seattle-based workers last year crippled two of Boeing's major assembly plants. 'We're disappointed our employees voted down the richest contract offer we've ever presented to IAM 837, which addressed all their stated priorities,' said Dan Gillian, vice president of Boeing Air Dominance and general manager of the site in St. Louis, Missouri. In a statement sent to Agence France-Presse (AFP), Gillian said no talks were scheduled with the union and the company was 'preparing for a strike.' Boeing's proposal included a 20% pay hike over four years and more vacation members working at sites in St. Louis and Mascoutah, Illinois, felt it did not meet their needs and did not guarantee a 'secure future,' according to the union.
