Boeing on Thursday formally opened a new composite center on its St. Louis campus that will house the company’s largest commercial aviation work statement ever placed at the site. Plans call for the 424,000-sq-ft plant first to build composite parts for the 777X. Boeing has committed more than $300 million in company funds to construct and outfit the center.

“Boeing has had a presence in St. Louis for nearly 80 years. We’ve built more than 12,000 fighter jets here,” said Bob Ciesla, vice president and program manager for the 777X St. Louis work. “With the opening of this new composite center, our well-trained, high-quality workforce is able to demonstrate its versatility and expertise, positioning our region for additional commercial and defense work in the future.”

Production of 777X wing edge and empennage parts will begin at the new composite center early next year. Boeing expects to deliver the first 777X in 2020.

As a result of the 777X work in St. Louis, the company expects to generate a total of some 700 jobs in production, engineering and multiple support areas by the early 2020s.