Camp Pendleton Opens New Barracks

Hundreds of Camp Pendleton Marines have a new place to call “home.”

Troops gathered to take a peek at their new amenity-equipped barracks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Camp Pendleton's Area 14 on Monday.

“Fourteen years in the Marine Corps—this is the nicest I’ve ever seen,” said Company Gunny Joseph Furniss. “It doesn’t feel like you’re on base. I feel like I’m at a five-star resort.”

During the ceremony, Col. Jim Clark said some of the older Marines joked that they never would have married if their living quarters had resembled the newly unveiled barracks. Older Marines, he explained, are more accustomed to open-room barracks that house 30 or more troops.

“These are absolutely the nicest barracks I’ve ever seen in 26 years,” Clark said. “There’s no question.”

The complex will house 1,600 Marines in four, 200-room buildings. The two-person rooms are roughly 200 square feet, which is 10 percent larger than industry-standard, according to officials.

Rooms include beds, desks, a small refrigerator, microwave, toilet, shower and sink. They also include walk-in closets, which Cpl. Arielle Coleman is most excited about.

“I like it,” Coleman said. “It looks a lot better than where we’re living at now. I’m pumped!”

Coleman is currently residing at the barracks across the street, which she said looks “raggedy.”

In addition to the extra closet space, Coleman said she is looking forward to using the outdoor seating area.

The state-of-the-art facilities feature community rooms for each building, which include outdoor barbecue areas, as well as game rooms, theater-style rooms with flat-screen TVs, kitchens, laundry facilities, basketball courts, horseshoe pits and volleyball courts.

The first parking structure on base, which can hold 654 vehicles, was also constructed for the site.

The complex is also green-certified and offers recycling centers, solar-paneled rooftops, storm water management, water efficient landscaping and window glazing for energy efficiency.

“You certainly have earned the privilege to live in these kinds of facilities after 10 long years at war,” Clark told the troops in attendance.

The complex was built for $131 million, which was $3 million less than budgeted, according to construction officials.

Troops will move into their new home during the next couple of weeks.

“It’s very impressive!” said Lance Cpl. Charles Schneider. “Everyone is pretty excited.”