etc Design Ltd were appointed as part of Boeing Flight Services consultancy team to develop phase 1 conceptual proposals for a new headquarters and flight training facility for Qatar Airways in Doha.

The designated site was to be located within the development area of the new Doha International Airport, Qatar.

Qatar Airlines brief was to bring together their existing facilities housed in 5 separate buildings in Doha into a single purpose-built headquarters with flight training facilities to house initially 8 full flight simulators, but with capability to expand to 16. The brief included a requirement to accommodate all required ancillary support infrastructure including; maintenance workshops, computer rooms, briefing rooms, training classrooms and administration offices.

Qatar Airways specified that the building needed to include a 2,500sqm cabin trainer room and elevated swimming pool for sea rescue simulation training. In addition, this flight training facility specifically needed to have separate designated areas for pilots and cabin crew and also secure private access to all areas for Qatar Airways dignitaries.

Qatar Airways were also keen to ensure that the building design was unique and striking within the desert landscape of the site and to compare with the quality of buildings and facilities provided by Emirate Airlines in Dubai.

Upon completing feasibility studies of Qatar Airways existing facilities and their requirements, inspiration on the form of the building was drawn from the Middle East’s leisure interest in falconry and in particular the form of the bird as it comes into land. 

etc Design Ltd provided initial conceptual proposals including 3D visualisations and indicative space planning layouts as part of Boeing Flight Services tender presentation.