US Army Corps of Engineers Reimagines Barracks Construction Using Mass Timber

The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has announced a shift in military housing design, unveiling plans to incorporate mass timber construction into new soldier barracks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).

The USACE Seattle District, JBLM Army Garrison, and 1st Special Forces Group leadership marked the launch of the Department of War’s largest construction project to date using mass timber. The five-story barracks, totaling 105,000 square feet, will house 200 soldiers when completed in early 2028.

“This is a challenge to build faster, stronger, and with greater environmental stewardship using cross-laminated mass timber materials—materials with a long history in the private sector, but with minimal use in the DoW,” said Col. Kathryn Sanborn, commander of the USACE Seattle District. “Today, with our contractor partners, we take the next step.”

The project falls under a pilot program established by the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, which directs military departments to evaluate mass timber as a primary construction material and assess its impact on environmental sustainability, infrastructure resilience, cost-effectiveness, and construction timelines.