Aerospace company Boeing has agreed to lease approximately 100,000 sq ft at a new building on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Kendall Square. The agreement makes Boeing the first major tenant to commit to MIT’s Kendall Square Initiative, which includes six sites slated for housing, retail, R&D, office, academic, and open space uses. Boeing is expected to occupy its new space by the end of 2020. “Our focus on advancing the Kendall Square innovation ecosystem includes a deep and historic understanding of what we call the power of proximity to address pressing global challenges,” said Israel Ruiz, MIT executive vice president and treasurer. “MIT’s president, Rafael Reif, has made clear his objective of reducing the time it takes to move ideas from the classroom and lab out to the market. The power of proximity is a dynamic that propels this concept forward: Just as pharmaceutical, biotech, and tech sector scientists in Kendall Square work closely with their nearby MIT colleagues, Boeing and MIT researchers will be able to strengthen their collaborative ties to further chart the course of the aerospace industry.” Boeing was founded in 1916 — the same year that MIT moved to Cambridge — and marked its recent centennial in a spirit similar to MIT’s 100-year celebration in 2016, with special events, community activities, and commemorations. That period also represents a centurylong research relationship between Boeing and MIT that has helped to advance the global aerospace industry. In the new facility at 314 Main St., Boeing will establish the Aerospace and Autonomy Center, which will focus on advancing enabling technologies for autonomous aircraft. Also, earlier this year, Boeing announced that it will serve as the lead donor for MIT’s $18 million project to replace its 80-year-old Wright Brothers Wind Tunnel. This pledge will help to create the world’s most advanced academic wind tunnel. “Boeing is leading the development of new autonomous vehicles and future transportation systems that will bring flight closer to home,” says Greg Hyslop, chief technology officer at Boeing. “By investing in this new research facility, we are creating a hub where our engineers can collaborate with other Boeing engineers and research partners around the world and leverage the Cambridge innovation ecosystem.”