December 13, 2016 –
TONGANOXIE, Kansas (December 13, 2016) – Situated on more than 19 acres of eastern Kansas Prairie land, the Tonganoxie Army Reserve Center will be a state-of-the-art, energy-efficient facility when it opens in January 2019. But now, it is officially a construction site after the groundbreaking ceremony here, December 13.
“We are extremely fortunate to have this opportunity to construct this new facility in this high-growth area of the Kansas City metropolis,” said Col. Kurt Wagner, the director of the 88th Regional Support Command’s Directorate of Public Works. ” It’s exciting to start construction on this facility and I’m looking forward to moving into it once it’s opened.”
For the more than 250 Army Reserve Soldiers who will call this $12.1 million facility home once it opens, the updated accommodations offer them a chance to focus on their tactical and specialized skills.
“Having a new building, one that’s been upgraded, will give us more capabilities and take away all those training distractions we’re dealing with right now,” said 1st Sgt. Darrin Campbell, from the 842nd Quartermaster Company.
Campbell’s unit is currently based at the Trembley White Army Reserve Center in Kansas City that was built in 1963 and will be replaced by the Tonganoxie facility.
The new Army Reserve Center will feature a more than 36,000 square foot building and an additional 1,600 square foot storage facility. This facility will be Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver Certifiable upon completion.
It is also a collaborative effort between the 88th RSC, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Tonganoxie and the county of Leavenworth.
During the ceremony, Tonganoxie Mayor Jason Ward spoke about that collaboration.
“It’s been an amazing ride full of ups and downs and we’re so proud to be here today,” he said. “We have a proud history with the military here in Leavenworth County and we’re proud to bring it here to Tonganoxie.”