Boeing's Washington factory is the biggest building in the world by volume

Boeing Everett, the biggest building in the world, is where the jumbo jet became a reality and where large-scale aircraft production still takes place.

The site was built in 1967 to house the Boeing 747 and covers 472 million cubic feet, enough space to fit 13 Wembley Stadiums.

It remains a major aircraft factory, assembling models that fly with airlines worldwide.

What happens inside shows how vast and intricate commercial aircraft production can be.

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Built for the First Jumbo Jet

The decision to build the 747 meant finding space to assemble several at once.

Boeing chose a 97.8-acre site near Paine Field, 22 miles north of Seattle.

Construction began in 1967, and the facility was ready for use the following year.

The scale of Boeing Everett is matched by its workforce. More than 10,000 employees can be on shift at the same time.

To move around the factory floor, staff use a fleet of 1,300 bicycles.

Overhead cranes carry major sections of aircraft into position.

The site also has its own fire station, medical facilities, and food services to keep operations running.

The Boeing 747, the original jumbo jet, was only the first of many models to come off these production lines.

Inside the Biggest Building in the World

The factory no longer produces passenger versions of the 747 but still assembles freighters, along with the 767, 777, and 787.

The interior layout can be altered for different projects, keeping it active as an aircraft factory for multiple programs.

There is no air conditioning; in warm weather, giant doors are opened to let in cooler air, while in winter, heat from equipment and lighting helps maintain workable conditions.

The plant operates three shifts a day. The second shift often handles large crane moves, when fewer workers are on the floor.

Finished aircraft are towed to Paine Field at night to avoid disrupting local roads.

While stories about clouds forming inside have circulated for years, Boeing says these came from mist during construction or smoke from nearby wildfires.

After more than 50 years in operation, Boeing Everett continues to be a central part of the company’s production network.

It remains the biggest building in the world and one of the most important aircraft factory sites anywhere, producing both historic and modern aircraft models.

The jumbo jet may have defined its beginning, but the site’s role in aviation manufacturing remains just as relevant today.

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