WASHINGTON - The Department of the Army broke ground Aug. 9 on a new barracks project at Joint Base Lewis-McChord that will use sustainable building materials.

The new buildings, designed to house 168 soldiers of the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, will help the Army evaluate the benefits of using sustainable building materials and design techniques for military construction projects.

This initiative aims to increase building resiliency and improve environmental quality, creating healthier defense communities. The 89,000-square-foot, three-story facility features a "twin barracks" style with two 44,500-square-foot structures. The design includes a mixture of four-bed, two-bath and two-bed, one-bath apartments, balancing soldiers' privacy with single occupancy rooms and communal kitchen and living spaces. This modern design will enhance both community and comfort.

"Through better and more innovative building techniques, the Corps of Engineers has designed a barracks that is cost-competitive and will provide the highest quality of life for our soldiers while reducing emissions and the impact on the environment," said Paul Farnan, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Army for installations, energy, and environment.

The Army is using sustainable design strategies and building materials to lower utility and operating costs, enhance resilience to extreme weather, and improve the quality of life for soldiers, their families, and civilians. The initiative aims to not only enhance soldiers' living conditions but also evaluate the financial benefits of using sustainable materials to reduce long-term maintenance costs and improve building efficiency.

"Joint Base Lewis-McChord is committed to providing modern and high-quality living spaces for all of our enlisted personnel," said Maj. Gen. Matthew McFarlane, deputy commander of I Corps. "We are particularly excited about this new construction; our soldiers are our most valuable asset, and we are redoubling efforts to improve their quality of life."

The materials used to construct the barracks at JBLM aim to reduce embodied carbon - emissions from manufacturing, transportation, and installation of building materials - by at least 30%.

"We are proving that we can build better; we can save money and increase our resilience and lower our emissions and still deliver the very highest levels of quality for our soldiers," said Farnan.

The $100 million construction budget for this project, authorized in the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, represents a strategic investment in more efficient and durable military housing.

Construction is set to be completed by FY 2027, with the barracks ready for soldier occupancy. The insights gained from this pilot project will influence future military construction projects, including the upcoming fiscal 2025 JBLM Mass Timber Barracks project, potentially leading to further cost reductions and efficiency improvements across the Army's infrastructure.