Boeing Plans Fabrication Center in Mesa

By Tasha Anderson for AZBEX 
The world’s leading manufacturer of commercial jetliners, defense, space and security system and largest aerospace company is planning to build a new fabrication center at the NEC of Greenfield and McDowell Roads in Mesa. 
The Boeing Company submitted plans to the City of Mesa and is requesting site plan approval and a special use permit for the one-story building. The City of Mesa’s Planning and Zoning Board approved the request with conditions at its August 26th meeting. 
The new fabrication center will be approximately 155KSF and will be located on +/- 21.5 acres of vacant land within the western part of the existing Boeing campus. The special use permit was requested for the building to exceed the maximum 40-foot height and allow for a building height of 55 feet. “The request to exceed the zoning height is related to the various manufacturing processes associated with the classified fabrication planned for this facility,” according to the submitted project documents. 
The building’s design complements the surroundings buildings within the Mesa Boeing campus and includes, onsite cast tilt-up concrete wall panels, light to dark gray colors, and varying horizontal and vertical recesses. Other exterior design elements include aluminum shade control such as vertical fins and horizontal “eyebrow” awnings. 
The building will be within a 100-meter secure perimeter set back from Greenfield Road and surrounded by open space. A detached central utility plant is located to the west of the site and a truck inspection booth to the south. The booth will permit deliveries to and from the fabrication center. 
A parking lot will be located outside the perimeter along Greenfield road. The project will include a total of 274 parking spaces and 30 bicycle parking spaces. The documents note enhanced landscaped areas will be included along Greenfield, entrances and walkways. Landscaping around the building is limited for safety and security reasons. 
The project still needs to go before the Mesa City Council for approval. According to the documents, The Boeing Company anticipates obtaining Certificate of Occupancy by June 2021.