When we think of the biggest things on Earth, we tend to think of places like the Grand Canyon. However, few man-made places are as remarkable as the Boeing Everett Factory, officially known as the Everett Production Facility and the largest building in the world. Not only is this building enormous, but it’s also produced some of the world’s largest aircraft.
Location
Boeing’s Everett Factory sits on over 1,000 acres of real estate in Everett, Washington, about 22 miles from Seattle. The buildings are so large that they span both sides of State Route 526, also known as Boeing Freeway. The building has even expanded a few times to accommodate larger aircraft.
History
Construction of the Everett Factory, Boeing’s primary location for building the 747 aircraft, began in 1966. The site was selected because it was near Paine Field, which had been used solely as a hub for aviation and manufacturing without any commercial service. Boeing purchased 780 acres, and the 158-million-cubic-foot factory was built in sections.
Aircraft Manufactured
Throughout the history of the Boeing Everett Factory, manufacturing has focused on the Boeing 747 but, as indicated above, has expanded to three other aircraft since 1967. Over time, the facility has expanded to accommodate the 767, 777, and 787 airliners.
Main Building
The facility covers over 1,000 acres and comprises more than 200 separate buildings. The main building is 114 feet tall and has six hangar doors, each 82 feet tall and up to 350 feet wide. Boeing’s main assembly building covers 98.3 acres and is organized into six production lines, including offices and other spaces.
World Record
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the facility’s main building is the largest in the world by volume. It can accommodate 75 American football fields and still have some room to spare. One way to understand the size of the building is to consider that you could also fit all of Disneyland into it.
No Air Conditioning
One of the most surprising facts about Boeing’s main building is that it lacks air conditioning. While the building has a central ventilation system, it is cooled by opening the large doors for air. During winter, residual warming, heat from employees, machinery, and 1 million overhead bulbs provide heat.
Boeing Employees
More than 30,000 workers are on-site in the facility, primarily working three separate shifts. Unsurprisingly, Boeing is Everett and Snohomish County’s largest employer. Due to the size of the complex, Boeing has a fire station, medical clinic, on-site security, a gym, and seven restaurants and cafes for its employees who don’t have to leave the property for food.
Local Economy
As Everett’s largest company, Boeing significantly impacts the local economy beyond being the area’s biggest employer. The location of Boeing’s facility has also meant that suppliers and subcontractors in the aerospace industry have satellite or main offices in the Everett area, further boosting the local economy.
Public Tours
Boeing first opened the facility for public tours with the rollout of the 747 in 1968. By 2020, the number of visitors who had seen the facility had climbed to over 150,000. While tours were suspended during COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023, the 80-minute guided experience has since resumed.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Tada Images/Shutterstock.com.
