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Qatar Academy Al-Khor

Project summary provided by submitting company.

There were a total number of 9 buildings, with 2 floors and a total area of 595,155 sq. ft. The exterior perimeter was all tilt-up insulated reinforced concrete panels, with some interior reinforced concrete shear wall solid panels. Inside, there are precast columns, precast and prestressed beams and hollow-core slabs. Reinforced concrete screed was then cast on the hollow-cores and joined with the tilt-up panels to form the rigid diaphragm of the structure. The spans of the concrete beams were around 7.2 meters. In one of the buildings, there was a gym inside where it's roof was supported by prestressed reinforced concrete I-beam Girders spanning 21.5 meters, supported on precast columns. The external Tilt-Up walls were extended about 2.6m above the Finished Roof Level acting as a parapet to conceal the mechanical and HVAC equipment on the roof.

Total number of precast elements:
  1. Precast columns = 583 pc.
  2. Precast and prestressed beams = 953 pc
  3. Hollow core slabs = 5945 pc
  4. Precast stairs= 81 pc
  5. Precast landings and slabs= 90 pc

This project was the first Tilt-up project in Qatar. It was re-designed from conventional concrete construction to tilt-up, after the tilt-up contractor/specialist convinced the general contractor and the Client that the tilt-up system will reduce cost and expedite the construction process, where the tilt-up contractor also carried out the redesign of the project. This value engineering in switching to tilt-up resulted in achieving around 15% cost savings (of the skeleton works' budget) for the General Contractor (GC) and the client; thus securing the contract for the GC.

The inherent characteristics of the tilt-up system of being able to build relatively wide, tall and heavy wall panels cast on site, made it possible to meet the project's tight re-design and construction schedule in terms of time, quality and cost (post value engineering). Furthermore, its inherent fire resistance, sound and heat insulation and the durability of concrete as a structural material has met the satisfaction of the project owner and end user, and gained their confidence in the system to last for many maintenance-free years to come.

The insulated tilt-up concrete wall panels made it possible to meet the project's required U-Value, with a total concrete thickness of 300 mm (150 concrete/50 insulation/100 concrete), utilizing top of the line composite connectors by Thermomass, compared with the original conventional block work system of 500 mm. During the re-design and build phase, the specialty Engineer working with the project design team, have managed to capitalize on the strong features and characteristics of the tilt-up system to adapt it successfully to the footprint of this relatively large project with almost repeated foot prints for each of the 9 buildings.

All foundations and skeleton works (using tilt-up) of the 595,155 sq. ft. of the project buildings were completed in 6 months, the entire completion of the project took 12 months. Due to the fast speed of construction using tilt-up, finishing works inside the buildings started only after 1-month of construction.

Notes:

  • The project contained one of the tallest and heaviest panels in the region
  • Adaptability of the tilt-up system to the projects requirements and footprint, as the project was initially planned as conventional, and speed of panels production and erection in 6 months
  • The labor force was unskilled (first time for tilt-up), and yet the tilt-up contractor managed to train the labor and finished the project in an extremely fast time-period.
  • The needed quantity of timber form-work was reduced by almost 90%, due to the tilt-up system of construction.
  • Because of using tilt-up, there are less workers' safety hazards from working at heights and falling, since most of the work is done on the ground slab. The project received a safety award of: One Million Safe Man Hours
  • The project was completed 1 year ahead of the initial schedule, and was completed in June just before the commencement of the new school year for the students, so it had a significant impact on the community at Al Khor/ State of Qatar.
  • Due to the use and implementation of the tilt-up system, the number of workers was reduced by almost 50% than needed in conventional construction, so less workers are exposed to health and safety hazards
  • Due to using tilt-up as the construction method, the Contractor and Client saved about 15% of the skeleton works budget.
  • Major reduction in construction material Waste.
  • Major reduction in Transportation activities related to the construction process (Less CO2 emissions as a result).
  • Major reduction in future maintenance as a result of using Tilt Up Vs. Conventional construction.
  • Energy Saving as a result of delivering Insulated Panels.
 
Main banner image for Qatar Academy Al-Khor

Project Location

Al Khor, Al Khor
Qatar

TILT-UP ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Tilt-Up Achievement Awards were established to honor projects that use site-cast tilt-up concrete to introduce new building types, advance industry technology and provide unique solutions to building programs. Winning entries illustrate the variety, beauty, and flexibility of tilt-up construction.

ACHIEVEMENT

2018

The world’s greatest tilt-up structures are featured by the TCA as Tilt-Up Achievement Award Winners. Learn more >

Project Images

TILT-UP TODAY MAGAZINE / PROJECTS IN THE NEWS

Project Team (TCA Members)

General Contractor:
SiteCast General Contracting Co.
Concrete Contractor:
SiteCast General Contracting Co.
Architect:
 
Engineer:
SiteCast General Contracting Co.
Suppliers:
 
Photographer(s):

Project Specifics

Project Category:
Schools
Building Types:
Classroom Building
Finishes:
Concrete (Polished)
Paint (Flat)
Paint (Textured)
Stucco
Features:
Angled Panels (Elevation-Edge/Shape)
Reveals
Stacked Panels
Voids
Insulation:
Sandwich Panel (Composite)
Environmental:
Number of Floors:
3
Number of Panels:
481 panels
Tilt-Up Wall Area:
274,634 sq ft (25,513 sq m)
Total Floor Area:
595,155 sq ft (55,290 sq m)
Project Footprint:
332,295 sq ft (30,870 sq m)
Tallest Panel:
40 ft 5 in (12.32 m)
Widest Panel:
34 ft 1 in (10.39 m)
Largest Panel:
993 sq ft (92.2 sq m)
Heaviest Panel:
116,600 lbs (52,889 kg)