An oasis of sustainability in the center of the campus, the college was designed as a magnet for 2,500 students, 200 teachers and administrative staff and the community. It also is key to realizing Qatar University’s ambition to improve the education system in the country, while enhancing the institution’s reputation across the region. 

The 59,000-sq-m school was constructed to four-star standards under Qatar’s Global Sustainability Assessment System. A key internal feature is a series of hydroponic green walls in halls and staircases. On the exterior, calligraphy is engraved onto ceramic surfaces of the facade.

COVID-19 hit after the design phase had ended, but the pandemic affected procurement of long-lead materials due to disruption of the global supply chain. The team was able to find local substitutes. 

Still, the pandemic had an impact beyond creating procurement challenges. As a consequence of a national COVID-19 lockdown that lasted three months, the university approved a 13-month schedule extension. Despite that delay and the procurement issues, the project, which opened in April, came in $150,000 under its $114-million budget.