Southwest Center Built to Withstand F4 Twister

The LEAD Center was completed in mid-May and has capacity for 18 flight simulators.

DALLAS—Two significant milestones were recently celebrated at the Southwest Airlines Wings project: topping out of what will be Southwest’s new office/Leadership Education and Aircrew Development (LEAD) Center and the on-time delivery of the first flight simulator. McCarthy Building Companies Inc. broke ground on the new building at the corporate campus in May 2016 and one year later, completed the portion of the Wings building that will house the LEAD Center in time to receive the first Flight Simulator. The overall project is expected to be completed during the first quarter of 2018.

“We are committed to delivering on our promise to complete the project on or ahead of schedule and within budget for Southwest Airlines,” said Dan Cummings, McCarthy project executive. “Our team has worked diligently in getting this building ready for the pilots and technicians. We have had the full support of Southwest Airlines, the project architects and engineers, and our subcontractors, to maintain the flow of work necessary to accomplish our mission.”