Just when you thought 3D printing couldn’t get any bigger, Qatar hits print on the world’s largest structure, right in the desert.
In a global first for large-scale digital construction, UCC Holding and Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) have begun the printing phase of what will become the world’s largest 3D-printed building, using massive custom-built printers from Denmark’s COBOD.
The first-of-its-kind project will see two entire public schools rise from concrete layers in the desert, each spanning 20,000 square meters. It is part of a broader initiative to build 14 schools totaling 40,000 square meters.
Bigger than blueprints allow
The upcoming structure would be 40 times larger than the largest 3D-printed building constructed anywhere in the world to date.
Until now, the title of the world’s largest 3D-printed building belonged to a luxury equestrian facility in Wellington, Florida, spanning just over 10,000 square feet.
Completed by Printed Farms using COBOD’s BOD2 printer, the barn demonstrated the durability and versatility of 3D printing with storm-resistant features and climate-adaptive wall design.
But Qatar’s new project dwarfs that record, marking a 40X leap from the previous global benchmark and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in large-scale additive construction.
To pull off this unprecedented feat, Qatar’s leading energy and infrastructure company has commissioned two custom BODXL printers from COBOD, each the size of a Boeing 737 hangar and among the largest construction printers ever built.
Measuring 50 meters long, 30 meters wide, and 15 meters high, these machines extrude specialized concrete layer by layer, shaping walls that curve like desert dunes.
Layers mimic desert winds
Over the past eight months, a dedicated 3D construction team of architects, engineers, material scientists, and printer technicians has been working behind the scenes, conducting more than 100 full-scale test prints in Doha.
From tailoring the concrete mix to perform in Qatar’s harsh climate to designing a custom nozzle for precise extrusion, the team fine-tuned every detail before launching operations.
In May 2025, the team completed intensive training with COBOD engineers, covering everything from printer sequencing and structural layering to real-time quality control.
The initiative has significantly strengthened Qatar’s local expertise in digital construction, helping develop a skilled workforce in one of the world’s fastest-growing sectors.
At present, the teams are fully engaged in printing operations. The process primarily takes place at night to avoid Qatar’s extreme temperatures and ensure optimal material performance. This not only improves the structural integrity of each printed layer but also reduces dust, noise, and energy consumption, a key part of Qatar’s broader push for sustainable construction methods.
Architecturally, the schools are designed to echo Qatar’s desert topography, with flowing, organic forms that would be difficult and costly to achieve using traditional building techniques.
3D printing unlocks this geometric freedom while cutting material waste, carbon emissions, and project timelines.
Expected to be completed by the end of 2025, the two schools will not only set a new benchmark in additive construction but also reinforce Qatar’s position as a regional hub for innovation, engineering, and sustainable infrastructure.
