Ashgal improved 27 schools in Qatar

The buildings include large spaces, facilities, and multi-purpose halls for studying and practicing various activities

The Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has completed the improvement works of 27 schools across the country in a bid to enhance school performance and environment through modifications, expansions, additional classes, and better safety by upgrading firefighting systems
The buildings include large spaces, facilities, and multi-purpose halls for studying and practicing various activities that serve the educational process and provide a rich learning environment, thanks to its modern design and various educational facilities.

For his part, Eng. Ahmad Al Emadi, Head of Education Project Section in ‘Ashghal’, says that as part of the state’s plan concerning the construction and improvements of schools and diverse educational buildings, ‘Ashghal’ in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has reconstructed 27 schools, which will help with higher number of students and better educational services. Ashghal built additional classrooms in some outnumbered schools to lessen class density.

Eng. Al Emadi noted that the design of the campus provides educational, environmental, recreational, and athletic amenities for students. The design of the schools is done in a way that include characteristics of the Qatari culture. There are three design models with different sizes which are implemented in most schools. The additional building in each school consists of two floors including a cafeteria, five classrooms, a supervisor room, a teacher room, administration office, storerooms, and bathrooms.

The fourth design “Village Type” model is applied in two schools, where the additional building consists of two floors and cafeteria, ten classrooms, auditorium, teacher room, storerooms, bathrooms, and ablution room.
An exception is Qatar Science and Technology School, which consists of four laboratories and laboratory prep rooms.
Eng. Al Emadi confirmed that all construction works on this project were carried out in accordance to local specifications and international standards. The implementation of this project took about 7 million-man hours without any lost time injuries. He pointed out that the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ applies all safety measures in regard to workers on this project.

Local materials
Obaid Al Athab, Engineering Support Section Head, says that supporting local products is a big part of Ashghal's vision, thus, it took up a large percentage of the building materials used in this project. Precisely, 70% of the total materials used were local materials.

Quality, safety, and environment
Eng. Al Athba added: “The Quality and Safety Department in the Public Works Authority ‘Ashghal’ has also implemented a new work mechanism to monitor quality, safety and environment. Specialists followed up the project over a period of 6 months, which resulted in a simulation of implementing a new work mechanism for all building projects in Ashghal and the subsequent comprehensive audit of the quality of the implementation and materials used, while taking into consideration the protection of the environment and the safety of workers”

Sustainability and Culture
It was taken into account during the design period that the buildings should have characteristics of the Qatari culture and follow the highest international fire safety standards.

It is worth noting that the design of the new schools and colleges came in accordance with the highest standards of quality and safety, as design and operational considerations were taken into account to achieve the highest standards of environmental quality, taking into account the following:
• Creating a system to rationalize the use and consumption of water inside and outside the building
• Protecting the environment during the project implementation period

The new projects are a part of achieving Qatar National Vision 2030, which comes as a priority within Ashghal’s strategy. Ashghal is keen to provide integrated infrastructure and public facilities that serve all sectors in Qatar, especially the health and education sector, since Ashghal implemented about 266 educational buildings from 2002 to 2018.

Source: Ashghal