Introduction

Fighting modern crime requires advanced protocols in criminal science. Modern forensic science requires unique facilities that promote scientifically demanding environments that support evidence handling procedures and protocols.

As you begin to contemplate how your facility can meet or exceed these technical advances, one association capitalizes on decades of experience in laboratory design and government facilities to bring you clear insight on creating advanced, technically superior facilities.

With over 350 professionals located in Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Los Angeles, and St. Louis, Crime Lab Design provides a continuum of lab planning, design and engineering expertise for creating modern crime labs and medical examiner facilities.

Crime Lab Design Services

We are continuously expanding and improving the level of in-house capabilities to ensure an appropriate and total solution for each project. We offer the following services:

Planning

• Strategic Facility Planning
• Need Assessments
• Laboratory Planning and Programming
• Hazardous Material Programming
• Feasibility Studies
• Site Selection Studies
• Land Use Analysis
• Master Planning
• Space Programming
• Graphic Analysis of the Program
• Site Analysis and Site Development
• Equipment Planning and Coordination
• Building Condition Surveys

Management

• Program Management
• Project Management
• Project Scheduling
• Cost Estimating
• Value Engineering
• Post Occupancy Evaluation

Architecture

• Landscape Architecture
• Architectural Design
• Code Review
• Sustainable Design

Engineering

• Civil Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Electrical Engineering

Interiors

• Interior Design
• Signage & Graphics

Build Services

• Construction Administration
• Move Management
• Building Commissioning
• Design/Build

Forensic Design Issues

The rise of DNA techniques, and other new procedures have put more requirements on forensic facilities. The big problem is that many of these facilities were never created to handle change and evolution. Facilities being built today need to incorporate features that will allow them to be modified, rearranged and updated with a minimum amount of disruption and expense.

Each crime lab and medical examiners facility presents a unique set of design considerations. Due to local legal interpretations, each facility may render different services. No cookie-cutter solution exists when creating forensic laboratories.

Crime labs are high throughput analytical labs that must process large amounts of material. Workflow issues must be considered carefully. Evidence receiving, handling, tracking, storage, security, and control are critical functions. Balancing these often-divergent requirements are challenges to confront when designing for forensic facilities.

Five Key Design Topics

Concepts outlining the future of forensic facilities are presently being tested with the Los Angeles Regional Crime Laboratory, as they design their new crime lab in Los Angeles, California. Crime Lab Design has benchmarked a number of crime labs and medical examiner facilities and have developed what we consider to be five key principles for the design of technically advanced forensic facilities:

1. Modular Design
2. Evidence Handling
3. Security
4. Laboratory Safety
5. Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering

To learn more about designing forensic laboratories and medical examiner facilities, visit www.crimelabdesign.com.