FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — A new chapter of modernization is underway at Fort Indiantown Gap, where construction crews have broken ground on a 21,170-square-foot multi-purpose facility that promises to transform how Soldiers, Airmen, and their families train, process, and gather at Pennsylvania’s busiest National Guard training center.

The $11.4 million project, located along Service Road in Area 4, will serve primarily as a hub for Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) and unit training activities, but its design allows it to flex far beyond its primary mission.

When completed, the building will feature a large auditorium equipped with a full stage and a folding wall partition, creating two equal spaces that can adapt to simultaneous training sessions, ceremonies, or community events. In addition, the facility will house 10 versatile office and classroom spaces, two of which will include movable partitions for customized layouts.

Supporting amenities include a breakroom café with kitchen appliances for troops and staff, a welcoming lobby for efficient in-processing, ample storage, and 177 new parking spaces to accommodate personnel and visitors during high-volume training periods.

Lt. Col. Adam Love, director of Fort Indiantown Gap’s Department of Public Works, said the project is part of a broader vision to consolidate essential services into one accessible area.

“The new facility will support our Soldiers, Airmen and their families and prepare them for future deployments and missions,” Love said. “Beyond SRP, the new auditorium will serve as a flexible venue for other training and social events, briefings and collaborative activities. Its modern design and advanced audio-visual systems make it an asset not only for the Pennsylvania National Guard, but for anyone who works or trains at Fort Indiantown Gap.”

The plan for Area 4 aims to create a centralized location where Soldiers can access critical services like administration, legal support, medical care, and finance — all vital for smooth and efficient readiness processing. By combining these functions, leaders hope to increase throughput, reduce logistical headaches, and maximize training time.

Col. Kevin Potts, garrison commander at Fort Indiantown Gap, said the project represents a commitment to invest in people and maintain the installation as a top-tier training ground for the National Guard and other military partners.

“This new facility will be yet another asset that will improve training and readiness for service members at Fort Indiantown Gap,” said Potts. “In addition, it will provide a modern facility that can be used for ceremonies and other events.

We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure Fort Indiantown Gap is a state-of-the-art training center that offers everything our service members need to prepare them for any mission, anywhere.”

The land selected for the new construction carries a bit of local history — once the site of the post’s swimming pool, which closed in 2019, the area has been unused for several years. Repurposing the site is part of Fort Indiantown Gap’s ongoing strategy to modernize underutilized parcels and adapt infrastructure to changing training needs.

Planners also looked ahead: the design allows for a future medical building addition on the east side of the facility, ensuring that the installation can continue to expand services and adapt to growing mission requirements in the decades to come.

When completed — currently targeted for February 2027 — the facility will not only streamline readiness operations but also serve as a modern community anchor point for events, ceremonies, and collaborative programs.

As one of the most active National Guard training centers in the country, Fort Indiantown Gap hosts thousands of troops each year for exercises ranging from small-unit drills to large-scale joint operations. Projects like this multi-purpose center aim to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with the evolving needs of the force.

Originally reported by Brad Rhen in Dvids.