[Let's Run Again Construction Korea] 'Desert Rose' followed by 'Desert Miracle'... Hyundai Construction Blossoms in Lusail, Qatar

Hyundai Engineering & Construction Makes New History in Qatar Architecture with Lusail Tower Following National Museum
Exclusive Contract for Office Building Sections 3 and 4, Basement 5 Floors to 70 Floors Above Ground... Completion by End of 2022
13th Floor Structural Work Completed 11 Months After Groundbreaking... Speed and Accuracy Enhanced by Smart Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Yuri] Last year, the "ever-blooming rose" blossomed in the heart of Doha, the capital of Qatar, known as the "desert country." This represented the Qatar National Museum, inspired by the desert rose, which symbolizes sand clusters formed in the desert. Hyundai Engineering & Construction, the contractor, created 316 circular panels of varying sizes by combining over 76,000 fiber-reinforced concrete (FRC) pieces to realize the flower shape. By mixing these panels at various angles to complete the geometric exterior, the Qatar National Museum earned the nickname "Rose on the Desert." The highly precise work, which took four months just to install the first panel, was successfully completed thanks to Hyundai E&C's smart construction technology. This site introduced the world's first construction management method applying 3D Building Information Modeling (BIM) throughout the entire construction process.

Hyundai E&C is challenging itself to make new architectural history in Qatar again this year. This time through the "Qatar Lusail Tower" in Lusail, a planned city located 15 km north of Doha. The Qatar Lusail Tower, located in the Lusail City financial district, consists of a super high-rise office building from basement level 5 to 70 floors above ground, along with podium retail and other surrounding facilities. It is expected to be reborn as a regional landmark alongside the Lusail Iconic Stadium, which will host the 2022 Qatar World Cup final nearby.

◆A Massive 1.2 Trillion KRW Building, Set to Become a Landmark= Early this year, Hyundai E&C announced its first overseas contract of the year by winning a 613 billion KRW contract for Lusail Plaza Tower Section 4 (PLOT4) from a Qatari real estate developer. Two weeks later, it also received the Letter of Award (LOA) for the 609 billion KRW Section 3 (PLOT3) construction. Combined, these two sections represent a massive office construction project worth approximately 1.2 trillion KRW (1.06 billion USD). The project is divided into four sections; local contractors are handling Sections 1 and 2, while Hyundai E&C has the exclusive contract for Sections 3 and 4. The construction period is 34 months from groundbreaking, targeting completion by the end of 2022.

The site is currently bustling to align with the Qatar World Cup schedule. Large trucks continuously transport steel frames, rebar, and other materials to the storage yard, and despite the complexity of constructing basement and above-ground floors simultaneously, traffic controllers maintain order and safety. Eleven months after groundbreaking, the site has already begun structural work on the 13th floor core.

◆Smart Technology Behind Fast and Accurate Construction= Hyundai E&C's smart construction technology plays a key role in ensuring both accuracy and speed. At major construction sites like the Qatar Lusail Tower, Hyundai E&C integrates smart technologies such as drones, laser scanners, and BIM. By combining remotely operated or AI-driven unmanned aerial vehicles with laser scanners and cameras to capture wide areas, they achieve both effective construction and safety management. BIM, introduced at smart construction sites, is also considered a core technology. Based on 3D design methods, this system integrates all building information to support schedule shortening and process efficiency, according to Hyundai E&C officials.

The Qatar Lusail Tower employed a core-first construction method, separating internal and external frameworks to enable faster progress. The site also applied a unique construction technique for super high-rise buildings: the outrigger method, which creates a belt of steel and concrete on each floor to control building vibrations and earthquakes.

Over the past decade, Hyundai E&C's R&D division and Future Technology Research Institute have continuously developed smart construction technologies for various business sectors. By combining BIM, drones, robots, and smart devices, information is shared via a cloud platform with clients and supervisors, and site managers utilize this data for site management. Training is provided to site staff, usability is evaluated, and improvements are implemented to upgrade smart technologies. Hyundai E&C currently employs 57 in-house experts in smart construction and uses 48 advanced pieces of equipment across different construction processes. The company has applied smart construction projects not only at the Qatar Lusail Tower site but also at 34 domestic and international sites, with plans for further expansion.

◆On-Time Completion → Increased Trust → Expanded Orders: A Virtuous Cycle= By completing regional landmarks based on smart technology, Hyundai E&C has risen to become a top-tier construction company in Qatar. Since first entering Qatar in 1979 with the Sheraton Grand Doha Hotel project, Hyundai E&C has completed 22 projects worth 9.4 billion USD, including the Ras Laffan C IWPP project, QAFCO fertilizer plant phases 5 and 6, and Hamad Medical City phase 2. Currently, it is executing projects worth 2 billion USD, such as Al Maha Children's Hospital and Qatar Al Bustan Road construction.

With an expected construction volume exceeding 200 billion USD over the next decade in Qatar, Hyundai E&C is gaining a competitive edge in securing contracts by leveraging smart construction technology. A Hyundai E&C Lusail Tower site official said, "The most important factors on Qatar sites are adherence to construction schedules and quality. Having successfully completed representative landmarks such as the National Museum and Lusail Expressway last year, Hyundai E&C has earned deep trust locally and expects to continue winning major contracts."