A major expansion by Electric Boat is expected to bring thousands of workers to a new campus in Waterford while providing a significant boost to Connecticut's economy.

The company broke ground Thursday on a new engineering and software laboratory at the former Crystal Mall site.

The project will convert the longtime retail property into a campus designed to support Electric Boat's growing workforce.

Officials said the facility could serve up to 5,000 employees.

The expansion comes after Electric Boat secured a $77 billion contract to build 14 submarines for the U.S. Navy.

"As we grow production to levels that have never been seen in the United States and capabilities that have never been deployed by the United States Navy," Electric Boat President Mark Rayha said.

The Navy agreement is the largest shipbuilding contract in modern history.

Electric Boat is Connecticut's sixth-largest employer.