Photo By Capt. Leyda Kanzler | TMD Director of Plans, Programs, and Innovation Brian Stevens and Brig. Gen. Monie...... read more read more
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AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Military Department (TMD) celebrated the grand opening of Camp Mabry’s Training and Innovation Center this month. The center is the first large-scale, side-by-side 3D-printed structure permitted by the Texas Historical Commission.
The new facility, located in the Camp Mabry Historic District, replaces temporary buildings that had outlasted their 10-year lifespan. The 2,900-square-foot structure offers a modern, energy-efficient space designed for training, innovation, and modernization.
“This project highlights the unique possibilities of technology and TMD’s commitment to drive innovative, creative ways to solve problems, even when facing resource constraints,” said Brig. Gen. Monie Ulis. “It helps us deliver solutions to our warfighters and state responders who keep us safe.”
TMD Director of Plans, Programs, and Innovation Brian Stevens said the facility will serve as part of TMD’s Joint Force Headquarters and act as a hub for collaborative planning and modernization efforts.
The building project was made possible through a Small Business Innovation Research grant in partnership with the Air Force Civil Engineering Command, the Texas Historical Commission, TMD’s construction and project management teams, and Austin-based 3D construction printing company ICON.
“In a time of constrained resources in the military, it is difficult to get money to build things,” Stevens said. “This project wouldn’t have been possible without a massive, collaborative team from across the defense and innovation ecosystem.”
The Texas Historical Commission worked closely with the project team to ensure the building honored Camp Mabry’s historical legacy while incorporating advanced technology.
“The commission even chose the building’s color palette,” Stevens said. “It replicates the aged brick colors of nearby 100-year-old buildings.”
ICON CEO Graeme Waitzkin noted the project marks the first 3D-printed building to receive a historical building permit from the Texas Historical Commission.
“This is a testament to the future of construction and a nod to the historical significance of this site,” Waitzkin said.
For Texas Soldiers and Airmen involved in the project, the building process provided a valuable opportunity to learn cutting-edge construction techniques.
“Our personnel prepared and constructed the slab the building is built on,” Stevens said. “They gained exposure to and an understanding of this innovative technology and how it can support Army and Department of Defense needs.”
The Training and Innovation Center also includes design elements that honor Camp Mabry’s dual identity as an operational headquarters and historical site. One notable feature is a three-dimensional Chevron wall, symbolizing the rank structure of soldiers and airmen.
“Chevrons have been part of military ranks since the Roman legions,” Stevens said. “This feature is a testament to the soldiers who helped build this facility and those who will use it for years to come.”
Established in 1892, Camp Mabry is home to the National Guard Headquarters and serves as a base for emergency operations within Texas. It also hosts training operations for the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Rangers, and thousands of citizen soldiers drill there each month and prepare for overseas deployments.
“The Texas Military Department is the largest National Guard in the United States, and we take pride in our mission of Texans serving Texans,” Ulis said. “We will continue to aggressively pursue innovative initiatives in areas like unmanned aerial systems, energy resilience, and critical infrastructure protection.”
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| Date Taken: | 12.16.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2024 16:22 |
| Story ID: | 487617 |
| Location: | AUSTIN, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 101 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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