AUSTIN, TX,  — ICON, the global leader in construction technology, broke ground on the Rotational Unit Billeting Area (RUBA) at Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) and Fort Polk, Louisiana, the latest deployment of robotic construction technology in service of U.S. Army readiness.

The project is supported by a production Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement, valued at $67.9M, awarded to ICON by the U.S. Army. Phase I of the RUBA will comprise eight 3D-printed facilities designed to support Soldiers through reception, staging, onward movement, and integration (RSOI) operations at JRTC, one of the Army's premier combat training centers. Facilities include billeting, field latrines, tactical and operational structures, a brigade aid station, and supporting infrastructure. When complete, the RUBA will deliver permanent, energy-resilient facilities built to reduce long-term lifecycle costs while enhancing the readiness of rotating units.

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“The investment in a new Rotational Unit Billeting Area (RUBA) at Fort Polk will provide much-needed housing upgrades for the men and women preparing for combat operations.” Said The Honorable Mike Johnson, U.S. Congressman for Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. “As Representative for Louisiana’s Fourth Congressional District, it is my distinct honor to continue supporting our service members and vital projects like this on our bases across our district. Built using ICON’s cutting-edge 3D-printing technology, Fort Polk is pioneering a major advancement in military infrastructure, strengthening readiness, and helping ensure the United States remains the most lethal fighting force in the world and Fort Polk remains the premier training center for the U.S. Army.”

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Horizontal construction begins this summer with vertical construction scheduled for September 2026. The project is expected to reach occupancy by Summer 2027.

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"The Army's decision to deploy advanced tools at JRTC reflects a broader recognition that infrastructure readiness is operational readiness," said The Honorable Will Hurd, President of ICON Prime. "Fort Polk is where units train before they deploy. Building the facilities that support those Soldiers with autonomous systems faster, more durable, and at lower cost is exactly the mission ICON Prime exists to deliver."

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The RUBA project continues ICON's expansion across U.S. Army installations, following the completion of ten UFC-compliant barracks at Fort Bliss this summer, the largest deployment of robotic construction technology in Department of War history. Like Fort Bliss, the Fort Polk project advances the Army's strategy of transitioning aging and temporary structures to permanent, performance-tested facilities built with additive concrete construction.

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ICON's robotic construction systems have been validated through more than 65 full-scale wall tests and over 100 component tests of ICON's wall system, with further testing underway in 2026. The print systems are operated by small crews and deliver structures with documented fire resistance, high-wind performance, and seismic design credentials, essential performance characteristics for mission-critical military facilities.