The CWC’s walls, roof, doors and windows are now complete. This major milestone shifts the team’s focus to installing building systems and meeting the requirements for tools and equipment.

Andrew Ness

Construction of the 777X Composite Wing Center in Everett, Wash., is transitioning as installation of the support systems for the autoclave, spar lamination, panel lamination and freezer processes begins.

"Our design drawings are coming to life," said Natalie Hanson, Shared Services Group (SSG) project manager and member of the 777X Composite Wing Center's SSG-led construction team. "All of us have a sense of accomplishment as this massive building takes shape and equipment is moved in."

The 1.2 million-square-foot (111,500-square-meter) facility will support the production of composite wings for the new 777-8 and 777-9 models. It will be used to fabricate the composite wing panel stringers, wing skins and wing spars.

This massive construction project employs an average of 1,500 workers, representing about 55 different companies, on site every day. On an aggressive schedule, the building is on track to be move-in ready by May.

The Composite Wing Center's shell — walls, roof, doors and windows — was finished Dec. 31, 2015. This major milestone shifted the teams' focus to installing building systems such as mechanical, electrical and compressed air, and meeting the requirements for tools and equipment.

Boeing is managing the complex construction project with key suppliers Hoffman Construction Company, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. and BRPH Architects and Engineers.

"Our team's success is due to the intense coordination and integration between the SSG-led construction team and 777X operations teams. We are tackling new challenges together every day because of new and evolving manufacturing processes," said Jacquie Foss, CWC SSG construction program manager.

Despite more than 4 million construction hours worked at the CWC, not a single person has had an accident severe enough to require a lost workday. Leikhim affirmed this accomplishment. "The safety culture established during the CWC construction is the foundation for how we will operate in the CWC during production. We expect to continue with no injuries."

By Christine Cranston

The CWC’s concrete floors are 75 percent complete. The factory floor’s concrete slab must meet specific structural strength and flatness requirements driven by the weight of aircraft parts and heavy manufacturing equipment.

Gail Hanusa