Qatar has officially launched the construction phase of two 3D-printed public schools in Doha, marking a global first in terms of both scale and technological ambition. The project is part of a nationwide initiative to build 14 new public schools, and is being led by UCC Holding in partnership with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).
What makes this project extraordinary is its size: each school spans 20,000 square metres. That’s 40 times larger than any other 3D-printed building constructed anywhere in the world so far.
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Both schools will be two-storey educational facilities built on 100-by-100 metre plots. Their dune-inspired, curved walls take direct inspiration from Qatar’s desert terrain, and are only possible thanks to the geometric flexibility that 3D printing allows.
To bring this vision to life, UCC has partnered with COBOD, a Danish leader in 3D construction printing. They’ve deployed two BODXL printers – each about the size of a Boeing 737 hangar – measuring 50 metres long, 30 metres wide, and 15 metres high. These are the largest construction printers in existence today.
Ahead of construction, the team spent months preparing the site, assembling printers, and conducting over 100 full-scale test prints at a dedicated site in Doha. Now that on-site printing has begun, it takes place at night to avoid extreme heat and improve the concrete’s strength. This approach also cuts down on dust and noise pollution.
The two schools are expected to be completed by the end of 2025. More than just record-breaking, they set a new global benchmark for digital construction and could shape the future of public infrastructure worldwide.
