MOBILE, AL—Airbus has hired construction management firm HPM to plan, design and build a new assembly plant here to produce A220 aircraft. The new facility will be located adjacent to Airbus’ existing factory in Mobile.

HPM will be responsible for managing all aspects of the design and construction of the new facility. It will also oversee an expansion of Airbus’ current assembly plant to accommodate increased production of the A320.

“We are ready to begin construction on Airbus’ next industrial facility in the U.S., and expand our current operations in Mobile,” said Daryl Taylor, vice president and general manager of the Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility.

Construction of the A220 plant is expected to begin next year. “This is great news and an important next-step in bringing A220 production to the U.S. for our U.S.-based customers. We are on track to deliver our first aircraft from Mobile in 2020,” said Florent Massou, head of A220 Program.

HPM served as program manager for Airbus’ $600 million project to build its first U.S. assembly plant in Mobile. Work on that factory began in 2013, and Airbus delivered its first Alabama-made A321 aircraft in 2016.