FORT BLISS, Texas— Fort Bliss leadership held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first of 10 new 3D-printed barracks on the installation July 28, 2026.
The project represents the largest deployment of robotic construction capabilities for the Department of War to date, highlighting how emerging technologies are reshaping Army infrastructure.
The 3D-construction process provides a faster, more economical way to build high-quality, energy-efficient barracks that improve soldiers’ quality of life and support mission readiness.
“[T]his project is about much more than statistics, 3D printing or cost savings,” said Maj. Gen. Curtis Tayor, the commanding general of Fort Bliss. “It is about combat readiness, and most importantly, it is about taking care of our people…This facility sends a clear and undeniable message to every Soldier who walks through its doors: We value you. We value your mission. And we value your sacrifice.”
This initiative builds upon a 2024 proof of concept at Fort Bliss that produced two 3D-printed buildings of a similar design that have been actively housing service members since their opening.
The current contract consists of 10 open-bay, 3D-printed transient training barracks accommodating up to 560 service members. The printing phase of all 10 buildings took 58 days with an estimated contract to delivery time of just nine months.
The new barracks will replace aging temporary structures with energy-resilient, durable buildings that have reduced life-cycle costs.
The ceremony officially opened the first two buildings of the 10 under construction. The project is expected to be completed in September.
Each conditioned building is Unified Facilities Criteria-compliant and has an area of 5,772 square feet, covering a total of 78,000 square feet. The U.S. Army achieved a 9.3% cost savings compared to traditional military construction benchmarks set by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, at four times the speed of traditional construction methods.
In the immediate future, these barracks will house members of Task Force Bastogne who are serving as a part of Joint Task Force - Southern Border in support of Operation Ardent Vanguard, preserving the territorial integrity of the United States.
“In the coming weeks, when the next unit finishes a demanding shift on the border, they won’t have to drive an hour into the desert,” said Taylor. “Instead, they will return here—to permanent, energy-resilient, world-class housing just steps away from gyms, dining facilities and recreation areas.”
Long-term, the barracks serve as part of the Rotational Unit Billeting Area (RUBA) and are designed to provide permanent, high-quality housing for the thousands of service members who rotate through Fort Bliss for transient training exercises.