Modernizing a Premier Cyber Training Campus

With more than $1.6 billion slated for improvements, Fort Gordon is undergoing the largest military construction program in the continental United States. This multi-year transformation includes 25 building, site and utility projects that will modernize the northeast Georgia installation into a premier cyber training campus. At the heart of this effort is the Cyber Center of Excellence (CCoE), a modern academic environment dedicated to training highly skilled professionals in 21st-century cyber defense—advancing capabilities that are developed and deployed to secure national interests.

A Vision for the Campus

In 2017, despite the critical mission, facilities across the Fort Gordon campus were outdated and overburdened. More than 18,000 trainees passed through annually, straining 60-year-old buildings that lacked central heating and air, suffered from leaky roofs and windows, and still contained asbestos. HDR led a collaborative planning and design effort, aligning stakeholder goals through a shared design vision. Working closely with Army leadership, HDR developed a flexible, pedestrian-focused campus plan that supports the CCoE’s evolving mission. This first-of-its-kind, 20-year transformation strategy ensures consistent design across multiple phases and facilities while enabling innovation beyond traditional delivery methods. The result is a compact, centrally organized campus that supports both current needs and future growth—designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and operational readiness.

Optimal Learning Environments

Four new Military Construction projects, ranging in size from 139,000 to 243,000 square feet, support flexible training environments, administrative functions, leadership offices, and shared-use spaces. Each facility integrates advanced instructional technologies, secure communications, and adaptable spaces to support evolving training needs.

• Training, Research, and Network Center (140,000 sf) includes a 130-seat auditorium, 20,000-square-foot Consolidated Data Center and the Cyber School Commandant.
• Mission Command and University Registrar Facility (236,000 SF) includes space for the Commanding General.
• Cyber and DoD Information Network Training Facility (243,000 sf) hosts the Signal School and NCOA Commandants.
• Cyber Instructional Facility (98,000 sf) includes classrooms and a 2,000-seat auditorium. 

Results That Deliver Mission Readiness

HDR’s design approach ensures that each facility supports the mission of the CCoE while enabling future adaptability. 

• Classrooms and labs are equipped with large-format interactive displays, flexible furniture, and advanced AV systems.
• Secure communications rooms, learning environments, SCIFs and administrative spaces are designed with architectural, operational, and electronic security measures.
• A robust 20,000-square-foot consolidated data center with 12kW average rack density, redundant electrical pathways, and in-row cooling systems supports the classified and secure environment necessary for cyber operations and training. 

As Fort Gordon continues its transformation, the new CCoE Campus will stand as a cornerstone of national defense—training leaders and innovators who will secure the digital frontlines for decades to come.