Project Showcase

Replicating the cool, misty mountains of China’s Sichuan province in the middle of the Qatari desert is not just an architectural feat—it is a triumph of MEP engineering and Digital Twin precision.

The Al Khor Panda Enclosure stands as one of the most technically complex zoological projects in the Middle East. Home to Thuraya and Suhail, the region’s first giant pandas, the facility requires a tightly controlled micro-climate that tolerates zero fluctuation. For BIM DESIGN LLC, the challenge was clear: coordinate a dense network of life-support systems into a geometrically complex, bamboo-inspired structure without a single clash.

The “Mission Critical” Challenge

Unlike a standard commercial building, a panda habitat is a “mission critical” facility. A failure in the HVAC system or a clash in the water filtration pipework isn’t just an inconvenience—it poses a direct threat to the animals.

Strategic Implementation

To deliver this project, BIM DESIGN LLC deployed a Level 2 BIM workflow compatible with ISO 19650 standards. We moved beyond simple 3D modeling to create a federated reliance model.

1. The Federated CDE Strategy

We utilized an advanced Common Data Environment (CDE) to fuse architectural, structural, and MEP models in real-time. This allowed the design team to visualize the “clash zones” in the curved roof soffits weeks before fabrication began.

2. Asset Data for Facility Management

The handover wasn’t just drawings. We delivered a verified Asset Information Model (AIM). Every pump, chiller, and filter in the digital model is tagged with maintenance schedules, warranty data, and performance specs. This allows the Al Khor Zoo facility management team to predict maintenance needs before systems fail.

Project Specs at a Glance