National Guard Opens New Headquarters Building In Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana National Guard is opening the doors to a new joint force headquarters in Indianapolis.

The facility is meant to provide workspace to more than 900 civilian and military personnel. Adjutant General R. Martin Umbarger said that would help make workflow more efficient.

“I couldn’t possibly explain and relate to you the amount of inefficiency to have other agencies that was housed somewhere else,” Umbarger said.

The federally-funded project added 80,000 square feet to one building and renovated 76,000 square feet of existing space in three other buildings at a cost of roughly $32 million. That number included utility upgrades, site development and furnishings.

Officials said the new facility will actually save taxpayers money. Before the headquarters was built, the Indiana National Guard spent about $470,000 annually to rent facilities for meetings.

“Being all centrally located is going to make it so much easier for us to work together and make sure we are doing the proper planning for the state of Indiana and the Indiana National Guard,” said Elizabeth Daniels, a senior major with the Indiana Army National Guard.

The opening comes one month before Umbarger is scheduled to retire after serving the National Guard for 45 years.

Andi TenBarge is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news site powered by Franklin College Journalism students.