6 minute read
Project Profile
Qetaifan Island North
PROJECT NAME:
Qetaifan Island North
PROJECT CLIENT:
Qetaifan Projects
TOTAL SIZE:
1.39 million sqm
PROJECT CONSULTANT:
Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group
Future Iconic
BIG PROJECT ME SPEAKS TO ATKINS, A MEMBER OF THE SNC-LAVALIN GROUP, ABOUT THEIR WORK ON QATAR’S ICONIC QETAIFAN ISLAND NORTH PROJECT, WHICH IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO LUSAIL CITY
ocated off Lusail City in Qatar, Qetaifan Island North has been designed to be a future iconic destination for the Gulf country. Spanning approximately 1.39 million square metres, with 129,296 square metres of water park alone, the island is set to become an exciting entertainment destination, with attractions for the whole family.
In addition to diversified waterfronts, distinct neighbourhoods, luxurious hotels, pedestrian friendly streets, living gardens, the destination comes with world class facilities that make it a modern, globally competitive community with a unique design that is inspired by the rich culture and nature of the region.
The main artery of the island that links all the zones together is the Linear Park, while there is also a man-made salt lake that links to the sea, allowing visitors to enjoy fishing, boating, and other activities. Spread around the lakeside are community facilities such as snack stalls, prayer rooms, and seating, along with meeting and game rooms, and a kid’s club.
Global community
Qetaifan Island North has been designed to be a world-class, global community inspired by the culture and history of Qatar and the region.
220
Number of BIM360 users on the project
The retail units on the island include canal-side cafes and a range of restaurants, ranging from quick service through to exotic fine dining, the developer says. The retail and festival area includes 92 units located next to a 6,500-capacity waterpark area; it adds, highlighting that the waterside retail, café and restaurant units are in three adjacent locations, built around the world-class waterpark, a five-star luxury hotel, and the entertainment and souq area.
The total area for all of this is 12,300 square metres along the banks of the canal, and it comes with 1,400 parking spaces. Furthermore, the development will offer seven private beaches, and a clubhouse that will offer an assemblage of activities, the developer says.
In 2017, Atkins, a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, was appointed the Lead Designer for multidisciplinary design consultancy and masterplan services for Qetaifan Island North (QIN) Phase One. The consultancy was given a mandate to create the masterplan for a visionary, blended urban development on a man-made, remediated island in the Arabian Gulf.
“When it came to being awarded this project, it was all about trust. The client felt that only Atkins could deliver a project of this scale in the region and in the time frame, based on our decades of experience and our presence in the Middle East and working on largescale, complex projects such as the Doha Metro,” says Barton Ferguson, Operations director at Atkins Qatar.
He explains that the QIN project required collaboration across global teams, multiple subcontractors and time zones. In 2018 Atkins was also appointed as Lead Consultant for the development, from concept to detailed design and construction supervision of Phases Zero and One, including building and infrastructure design and supervision for site-wide infrastructure, beach club, waterpark, linear park, hotel, souq, retail plaza and mosque.
Phase Two of the project, which includes residential development and
a school, is now underway. Atkins has been awarded the supervision contract for this phase, extending the company’s involvement through to the end of 2023.
TRANSFORMING DESIGN AND DELIVERY TOGETHER, WITH DATA Ambitious design, detail and complexity, time frame and high client expectations combined to make this challenging project a flagship for design and collaboration at scale. Atkins’ multidisciplinary design team took the previous iterations of the masterplan back to the drawing board, reworking the design and leveraging the latest digital technology to ensure delivery.
The masterplan comprised of numerous projects within a project, pulling in multiple teams and stakeholders from around the world. These included teams from locations as diverse as Doha, Dubai, Epsom, Hong Kong and India, along with subcontractors in Canada, US, UK and France.
Coordinating and collaborating efficiently on a project of this scale with global teams and stakeholders could only be achieved with a fully integrated digital solution.
“Introducing and leveraging digital technology to this degree, and implementing a common data environment, has set a benchmark for design in the region. This project was unique in the number of people from around the world who were able to
Projects within a project
The masterplan comprised of a number of projects within the project, bringing in teams and stakeholders from around the world.
92
The retail and festival area includes 92 units
collaborate using the common data environment, towards one goal,” says Anastasios Dimas, Regional Digital Delivery director, Atkins Middle East.
The complexity of calculations and functions required for the project meant that existing digital tools needed to be optimised and processes automated. The design team pushed REVIT, a building information modelling software tool, one step further, with automation scripts through Dynamo, an end-toend cloud platform, for elements such as the hotel design. Dimas points out that the project also led the way requirements to prevent breakdowns in workflow, Dimas and Ferguson add.
Working in the CDE enabled global teams to work consecutively according to time zone, each having access to a constantly updated model, creating a 24-hour workflow. Using the CDE, teams could predict and mitigate potential bottlenecks, a level of efficiency that proved integral to delivering a project of this scale and complexity at pace.
The project also marked the transition from 2D to 3D design in the region, with comprehensive 3D modelling across every aspect of the design, including utilities and roads, which could then be reviewed in the CDE with the client.
Now common practice, virtual reality technology was introduced to walk the client through elements of the infrastructure, such as the hotel.
Implementing a common data environment, has set a benchmark for design in the region. This project was unique in the number of people from around the world who were able to collaborate towards one goal”
in having full-team LOD300 detailed design, the phase where a design begins to accurately resemble what will be installed, and the implementation of a BIM360 common data environment (CDE) as a centralised platform, accessible to all global teams.
The design team alone comprised of more than 220 BIM360 users. Now a staple for buildings projects, the introduction of the CDE was key to efficient collaboration and set the benchmark for future urban development projects in the region.
All subcontractors had to be on board with BIM360 and LOD300
Working consecutively
Working in the CDE allowed global teams to work consecutively across time zones, creating a 24hour workflow.
1.39m
Total size of the project, in sqm
KEY DEVELOPMENT Qetaifan Island North is an important flagship project for Qetaifan Projects, which is owned by Katara Hospitality; a leading global hotel owner, developer and operator based in Qatar.
In terms of fulfilling the company’s own sustainability agenda and sharing the sustainability targets of the Qatar National Vision 2030, the project is a key development for both country and company.
