Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. -- Out with the old, in with the new. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), U.S. Army I Corps, and Assistant Secretary of the Army leadership joined Washington State congressional representatives for an Aug. 7 groundbreaking ceremony on a first-of-its-kind barracks pilot program using sustainable building materials meant to reduce its carbon footprint. Once complete, the new barracks will improve the quality of life for 168 Soldiers at JBLM, Wash.
The pilot program comes at a time when the U.S. Army and Department of Defense are investing in climate change mitigation efforts and embracing cutting-edge technology where Soldiers need it most when off the battlefield – their housing.
“JBLM is committed to providing modern and high-quality living quarters for all of our enlisted personnel, so we are particularly excited about this new construction,” said Col. Kent Park, JBLM Garrison Commander. “Our service members are our most important asset, and along with the DoD and the services, we are redoubling our efforts to improve the quality of life for all of our service members, and this new barracks is a demonstration of that commitment.”
Out of 130 Army installations, JBLM was selected for the Sustainable Building Material Pilot program outlined in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.
“JBLM is a sustainability leader, and it’s an honor we’ve been selected for the sustainable materials pilot program. This supports the DoD and the Army’s climate resiliency strategy with this new barracks construction,” Park added.
The 89,000-square-foot barracks will be built to the Army’s new 4/2 module standard of four-and-two-bedroom units with a kitchen and living area. Air conditioning is one quality-of-life improvement for Soldiers that was incorporated in the early design stages of the project.
“Let us remember why we’re here today – to improve the quality of life for our Soldiers, whose service and sacrifice represent the best of us,” remarked Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, deputy commanding general, I Corps. “Our Soldiers deserve the best, and this project is yet another step to ensuring they have it.”
The project’s overall goal is to reduce the construction’s embodied carbon by at least 30% – emissions from manufacturing, transportation, and installation of building materials. Lessons learned will be applied to future sustainable barracks and various Department of Defense projects.
USACE Seattle District is managing the architectural design and will leverage its in-house design, engineering, and architectural expertise with research lab support from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).
“We’re trying to set a new standard, to make things cleaner and reduce carbon emissions throughout the project’s lifespan from cradle to grave,” said Amy Marie Cassidy, ERDC research civil engineer, Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory. “We’re going to look at every step of the construction process, including how the material is manufactured and how it’s transported to the project site.”
Barracks construction is a top priority for DoD leadership. The Army is requesting 41% more barracks project funding for fiscal year 2025 – a 325% increase over FY 2024.
As Senate Appropriations Chair, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) helped secure $100 million in project funding for JBLM barracks construction for fiscal year 2024. “I believe strongly that we have an obligation and responsibility to take care of our veterans and ensure we have world-class military infrastructure to support our servicemembers,” said Senator Murray in an earlier news release announcing the funding.
Seattle District’s military construction branch is leading the planning and construction oversight of the $57 million construction contract awarded to Puyallup, Wash.-based Absher Construction Company.
“The Corps of Engineers is uniquely positioned to manage this project from beginning to end because we’re the Nation’s engineering experts and a trusted DoD partner,” said USACE Seattle District Commander Col. Kathryn Sanborn. “Our team is excited to work this, and future barracks projects in tandem with our JBLM partners to ensure safety, quality, cost and schedules are met. Soldiers depend on our success, and we won’t let them down.”
Construction is expected to be complete and ready for soldier occupancy in late 2027.