The Qatar Foundation Headquarters Expansion Building celebrates Islamic architecture and its main influencers: geometry and mathematics. The challenge of building on the work of architect Rem Koolhaas was met through the development of a holistic office complex that seamlessly expands the landscape of QF's Education City while honoring Qatari tradition and championing sustainability as part of the Islamic heritage.

The cubical headquarters building, representing the founding pixel of the development, acts as a pixel generator in the overall composition. The number zero, a historic Arab invention and the origin of the modern binary language, sets the matrix of the project. The boat-like expansion building, celebrating Qatari culture, promotes QF's Education City to a luscious, comfortable haven for learning where ambition meets tradition and education meets inspiration.

The expansion building incorporates numerous amenities across 66,000 square meters catering for more than 2,000 employees, including 950 offices; an auditorium; a sports center; a library and nursery; a prayer area, women center and media center; a cafeteria, leisure area, and parking space for 1,200 cars. Submitted as part of a Qatar Petroleum international design competition, the Qatar Foundation Headquarters Expansion Building design was selected as the winning scheme, but was ultimately cancelled due to the recent global economic downturn.

Location: Doha Qatar
Client: Qatar Petroleum
Address: P.O. Box 3212, Doha, Qatar
Total land surface area: 43,000 m2
Total built-up area: 66,000 m2
Total project cost: USD 250 million
Completion date: 2008