LABOTEL (Labor Accommodation and Hotel): An Integrated Living and Healthcare Facility Built with Modular and Light Gauge Steel Technology, Rapidly Adapted Under Pandemic Conditions

In the management of global health crises and emergencies, rapidly constructible, convertible, and high-capacity building solutions play a vital role. The LABOTEL (Labor Accommodation and Hotel) Integrated Workforce Accommodation Camp in Doha, Qatar is a strong example of this approach. Initially designed as a 4,000-person integrated workforce accommodation facility, the project was converted into a quarantine hospital complex during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing critical support to the country’s healthcare infrastructure.

The project was delivered by Dorce under an EPC model, commissioned by Gulf Systems for Contracting and Services Company LLC and owned by the Ministry of Municipality & Urban Planning (MMUP).

Rapid Adaptation to Pandemic Conditions

Constructed in the Umm Salal region of Doha, the accommodation camp was repurposed as a COVID-19 Quarantine Complex in line with the directives of the Qatar Supreme Committee for Crisis Management and the Ministry of Public Health. This transformation was successfully achieved in a short period thanks to the flexibility offered by modular and light gauge steel building technologies.

The complex currently has a 4,000-bed capacity and was designed to be expandable to 8,000 beds when required. The facility was planned not only to accommodate medical needs but also to ensure comfort, safety, hygiene, and social wellbeing for quarantined individuals.

Building Systems and Technical Infrastructure

The project utilized a hybrid structural approach combining:

• 4-storey Light Gauge Steel Frame (LGSF) buildings
• Pre-Engineered heavy steel structures

This hybrid solution ensured both rapid construction and high structural durability.

Located on approximately 69,770 m² of site area and featuring 71,150 m² of enclosed building space, the complex includes accommodation blocks, communal facilities, healthcare units, and support buildings. Electrical and mechanical systems, fire safety installations, ventilation, and hygiene infrastructure were all designed in full compliance with pandemic-related safety requirements.

Turnkey EPC Delivery

Within the EPC framework, Dorce undertook the full scope of works, including:

• Design and engineering services
• Manufacturing of light and heavy steel building systems
• Transportation and on-site assembly
• Electrical and mechanical (MEP) installations
• Testing, commissioning, and performance validation

The contract was signed in August 2016, site handover and construction began in November 2017, and the project was completed in September 2019.

Use as an Integrated Accommodation and Healthcare Complex

During the pandemic, the Umm Salal COVID-19 Quarantine Hospital Complex provided:

• Safe and hygienic accommodation facilities
• Medical treatment and monitoring units
• Social and rest areas
• Secure and controlled access systems

contributing significantly to public health protection across Qatar.

Crisis-Ready Infrastructure Through Modular Construction

The LABOTEL Integrated Workforce Accommodation and Quarantine Complex demonstrates the effectiveness of modular and light gauge steel building systems in emergency response, rapid transformation, and high-capacity infrastructure development. The project represents a powerful global reference not only for Qatar, but also for modular healthcare and accommodation solutions addressing pandemics, disasters, and humanitarian crises worldwide.