Boeing

The Boeing Company has selected local contractors McCarthy Brothers Construction and J.S. Alberici Construction Co. to carry out the first phase of its St. Louis site modernization plan.

Alberici will build a 140,000-square-foot addition to Boeing's Building 101, just northwest of I-170 and Airport Road. Boeing and Alberici expect to break ground on the project by December. With the addition, Building 101 will house C-17 subassembly work and T-45 and AV-8B production.

Alberici has been the contractor on a number of Boeing construction projects, including the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet final-assembly complex near the northeast corner of Lambert St. Louis International Airport.

Adjacent to the Super Hornet complex, McCarthy will build a 210,000-square-foot hangar and ramp facility that will support flight-test operations for all St. Louis-built aircraft. Groundbreaking is anticipated in spring 2001.

McCarthy was the contractor for the airport's recent East Terminal expansion. It has dealt extensively with the airport, Federal Aviation Administration procedures and local code officials.

"As two of the largest contractors in the nation, these companies offer a significant ability to perform much of the work themselves, providing greater control over cost and schedule," said Jack Hurley, Boeing manager of Facilities Planning.

Doug Graham, Boeing manager of Design and Construction, noted that both companies also have a significant presence with the St. Louis labor structure and "have demonstrated the ability to reach our goals for work with minority-owned and women-owned businesses."

The new facilities are expected to be open by mid-2002. Contracts for the work have been finalized; however, financial details aren't being disclosed.

The work is part of Boeing's previously announced plan to make its St. Louis site one of the most competitive operations in the aerospace industry. The company announced in September plans to invest up to $250 million in new facilities. Phase 1 includes the two projects that Alberici and McCarthy will build. Phase II will include a Joint Strike Fighter final assembly building should Boeing win that program.

Boeing also intends to sell approximately 1.8 million square feet of office and production space covering 81 acres to the St. Louis Airport Authority.

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