Boeing celebrates groundbreaking of 777X Composite Wing Center

Boeing has broken ground on its new 777X Composite Wing Center at its campus in Everett, Wash. Permitting for the new 1-million-square-foot facility was completed approximately seven weeks earlier than anticipated, allowing for an accelerated start to construction.

Boeing is investing more than $1 billion in the Everett site for construction and outfitting of the new building.

Once completed, the facility located on the north side of the main final assembly building will help usher in composite wing fabrication for the company’s newest commercial jetliner and sustain thousands of local jobs for decades to come.

“We’re excited with the progress being made on this new facility that will play a crucial role in bringing the 777X to market,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Ray Conner. “We wouldn’t be in this position without the support of our teammates and partners throughout the Puget Sound region and in Olympia – we owe them all a debt of gratitude.”

Completion of the new building, which is expected in May 2016, will require approximately 3.5 million hours of work. At its peak, there will be approximately 1,200 contract employees working on the project. By the numbers, the new building will require:
• 31,000 tons (28,000 metric tons) of steel
• 480 miles (770 kilometers) of electrical cable
• 80,000 linear feet (24,384 meters) of process piping
• 530,000 cubic yards (405,210 cubic meters) of fill material
• 170,000 tons (154,000 metric tons) of concrete