MAPP Breaks Ground on Louisiana National Guard Lafayette Readiness Center

MAPP is honored to partner with the Louisiana National Guard on the new Lafayette Readiness Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will support training, emergency response, and future growth for Louisiana's soldiers and airmen. The project officially kicked off with a groundbreaking ceremony held in Lafayette on October 8, 2025.

Located on land owned by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette near the Cajundome, the 83,943-square-foot facility is designed to meet the evolving needs of the modern soldier while providing long-term sustainability and efficiency. Once complete, it will include a general-purpose training bay, administrative offices, classrooms, and storage areas to support unit readiness. The facility will also serve as headquarters for the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and accommodate roughly 200 soldiers. The center will house the 769th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 199th Brigade Support Battalion, and the Louisiana Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, streamlining administrative functions and improving brigade-level coordination.

The design complements the recently completed readiness center in Lake Charles, part of the Guard's broader effort to modernize its infrastructure and enhance operational capabilities statewide. The new facility is being built to LEED Silver standards, incorporating energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and environmentally conscious design to reduce long-term operating costs and environmental impact. Construction is expected to take approximately 20 months.

At the ceremony, Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, highlighted the impact projects like this have on service member morale and the local economy while recognizing the many state, military, and project partners who helped make the readiness center possible. Col. Scott Slaven, director of LANG's Construction and Facilities Management Office, credited the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's support in making the project possible and praised the partnership with the university and the Lafayette community throughout the process.

We're proud to be part of a project that will serve Louisiana's soldiers and airmen for decades to come, and we look forward to seeing the Lafayette Readiness Center take shape in the months ahead.