By next spring, hundreds of injured, wounded and chronically ill soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are expected to have a new place to live, recuperate and plan their futures. The Army held a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for its $52 million Warrior Transition Battalion barracks complex.
Two new apartment-style buildings will hold units for up to 408 soldiers. Each member of the battalion will have a private bedroom and share a bathroom and small kitchen with one other soldier, as they do now.
Getting around will be easier, thanks to the elevators, and the atmosphere will be more comfortable, thanks to the air conditioning. Residents also will have access to a large courtyard with outdoor sports courts and covered picnic areas.
Officials say 10 percent of the living units will meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, and all will be within walking distance of Madigan Army Medical Center.
It will mark an upgrade from the refurbished, 1930s-era barracks where these soldiers have lived since 2007, when the Army started standing up 30 Warrior Transition Battalions around the country. The former open-bay barracks have gotten plenty of use over the decades, including previous service as the I Corps headquarters.
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