GFT Wins SAME Grand Award for Sustainable Military Training Facility Design

GFT is proud to receive the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Grand Award for the integrated architecture and design of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s new Training Support Center at Fort Indiantown Gap in Annville, Pennsylvania. This prestigious accolade highlights the firm’s commitment to exceptional design and its expertise in enhancing federal facilities.

The new 65,000-square-foot building is an example of technological and eco-friendly design, integrating cutting-edge features that promote energy-efficient operations. This project exceeds the Federal High-Performance and Sustainable Buildings guidelines and incorporates anti-terrorism and force-protection features.

Fort Indiantown Gap, the busiest National Guard training installation in the country, hosts over 100,000 personnel annually. The new center plays a central role in enhancing the installation’s efficiency, which has seen a 37% reduction in grid energy usage while doubling training hours. These advancements significantly lower operational costs, contributing to a more future-ready and sustainable military design while earning a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Adhering to the client’s stringent requirements, GFT employed modern design solutions to address complex needs. The facility consolidates multiple outdated training areas. It includes versatile training areas, such as flexible simulator spaces, classrooms, break areas, a showroom, offices, and a mid-bay and high-bay warehouse that houses training aids, replica weapons, an arms vault, and support spaces. Unique architectural elements like the asymmetrical gable entrance and saw-toothed walls provide structural integrity and enhance wayfinding and acoustics within the facility.

The training support center sets a new standard in military construction by balancing first-cost efficiency with long-term operational savings. The hybrid geothermal system and tilt-up concrete are notable for their low initial costs and high lifecycle performance, ensuring the facility operates at less than half the energy costs of comparable buildings. It is also the most efficient facility in the Guard’s portfolio, generating most of its energy onsite via roof-mounted photovoltaics.

This project represents several Army and National Guard firsts, establishing a precedent for future projects. It is the first LEED Gold-certified Army training center and the first to utilize tilt-up concrete for enhanced force protection and energy efficiency. By achieving these milestones, GFT delivered a state-of-the-art federal facility and set a new benchmark for sustainable military training environments.

Watch our free, on-demand INSIGHTS webcast, “​​Advancing a Sustainable Mission: ​Designing the Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Training Support Center,” to learn more about this award-winning federal government project. This course qualifies for AIA, PDH, ENV SP, and CMCI credit.