MINDEN, La. — The Louisiana National Guard has opened a new $12.1 million training barracks at Camp Minden, completing a military construction project aimed at expanding training capacity and improving operational readiness.
The 28,358-square-foot Collective Training Barracks was unveiled during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by military leaders, elected officials and project partners.
The facility includes classrooms, administrative and supply offices, a full kitchen, multiuse training space and sleeping accommodations for 168 soldiers, including eight private rooms for officers and other personnel. Additional space is available to accommodate more beds if needed.
Lt. Col. Collins said the project reflects years of collaboration among military, government and private-sector partners.
“This project symbolizes the hard work and cooperation of many people including our federal and state elected officials and civilian partners here with us today,” Collins said. “The result of those efforts is this remarkable facility that will serve to enhance soldier training and operational readiness in support of Louisiana National Guard’s federal and state missions.”
Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, said the new facility represents a long-term investment in the state’s military readiness.
“We’re standing before a premier $12.1 million military construction achievement spanning over 28,000 square feet that represents a critical modern leap forward in how to train, house, and sustain our troops,” Friloux said.
He added that the complex “is built for the future, to ensure that our troops remain resilient and mission ready under any conditions.”
Friloux also credited Gov. Jeff Landry, Louisiana’s congressional delegation, state lawmakers, the Louisiana National Guard Foundation, architects and contractors for supporting the project.
Designed to meet LEED Silver energy-efficiency standards, the facility includes solar thermal water collectors, a 50-kilowatt solar field and a 100-kilowatt natural gas emergency generator to improve resilience while reducing operating costs.
Construction began in January 2024 and was completed June 30, 2026. McInnis Brothers Construction Inc. served as the general contractor, while Sutton Beebe Babin Architects LLC, in a joint venture with Somdal Associates Architecture, designed the project.
Camp Minden, originally built as the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant during World War II, has served as a military installation for more than 80 years. The nearly 15,000-acre site was initially used to load, assemble and package ammunition before expanding production during the Korean and Vietnam wars.
Today, the installation serves as one of the Louisiana National Guard’s primary training centers. It houses unit headquarters, a Regional Training Institute, the state’s Reception, Staging and Onward Integration site for emergency response units, and Louisiana’s Youth Challenge Program.
The new barracks are expected to support soldiers participating in training exercises and other missions while expanding Camp Minden’s capacity to accommodate military personnel.
Amber McDown contributed to this report.