USACE Breaks Ground on $332M Alaska Training Hub

USACE Launches Construction of $332M Simulation Training Center in Alaska

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has officially broken ground on a sophisticated new military training complex at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) in Anchorage, Alaska. Announced in a September 23 release, the facility aims to enhance joint-force and coalition training through high-fidelity, simulated combat environments.

Named the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center – Elmendorf, the project carries a total estimated cost of $332 million. In July, the federal government awarded a $290 million construction contract to ASRC Builders-Caddell, a joint venture between Anchorage-based ASRC Construction and Alabama-headquartered Caddell Construction, according to the U.S. government’s System for Award Management.

The difference between the contract and project estimate reflects anticipated total completion costs, as confirmed by Cameron McLeod, public affairs specialist for the USACE Alaska District.

A First-of-Its-Kind Facility

The training center is slated to become the first installation of its type in the U.S. military infrastructure portfolio. It will support advanced, multinational, and joint-force training initiatives, with capabilities to stage “simulated complex scenarios” and prepare personnel for contested environments, according to USACE and Army statements.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is Alaska’s largest military installation and is considered a strategically essential defense location for both Arctic and Pacific operations.

State-of-the-Art Design and Features

The planned facility spans 150,000 square feet across two stories and is engineered to withstand Alaska’s challenging climate. USACE reports the building will integrate:

• 11 specialized simulator rooms
• Mission operations centers
• Briefing areas
• A central server room
• Dedicated storage and support infrastructure

These assets will allow service members to rehearse coordinated operations with allied and coalition forces across land, air, cyber, and mission-critical environments.

“This ultramodern facility and the servicemembers that will execute its missions and operations will usher in a new era of military readiness,” said Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, district commander of USACE’s Alaska District, in the news release.

Broader USACE Activity

The Alaska project adds to an already active year for USACE across multiple regions:

• In August, USACE’s Buffalo District announced mandatory use of building information modeling (BIM) across its design and construction portfolio.
• In 2024, USACE's Baltimore District awarded a $499 million design-build contract to Jade Creek Construction to modernize district facilities and improve waterways over five years.

The new training hub at JBER not only enhances U.S. military preparedness in extreme climates, but also supports allied partnerships and evolving defense strategies focused on simulation, readiness, and next-generation combat training.

Originally reported by Matthew Thibault in Construction Dive.