July 22, 2009
County Unveils $26.8M High-Tech Crime Lab, Morgue
Pittsburgh, PA - Allegheny County's crime lab and morgue facilities have been upgraded to a nearly 80,000-square foot building at 1520 Penn Ave., on the downtown side of the Strip District.
The building, which once housed county offices, had been vacant for many years, says Kevin Evanto with Allegheny County.
The new $26.8 million Medical Examiner Facility is one of just 361 accredited crime labs in the country, and the first accredited county lab in Pennsylvania. The facility, which officially began operation over the weekend, will provide forensic, analytical and medical testing services to law enforcement agencies throughout the county.
Previously, the morgue was located in a century-old building downtown, and the crime lab was in the basement of the County Office building at 542 Forbes Ave., also downtown. Pittsburgh had long outgrown those "cramped and antiquated" facilities, according to County Medical Examiner Dr. Karl Williams.
The new facility puts the city's pathologists, scientists and ballistics experts under one roof, which--combined with the center's increased space and new, high-tech features--is expected to improve efficiency and productivity.
The new complex may look plain on the exterior, but is "better than, more interesting and more real than CSI" on the inside, said Dr. Williams at a media tour on Friday. Features include: a 24-hour evidence drop-off area; on-site vehicular processing; an indoor firing range; 4,300 square-feet of high-density storage; a unique forensic laboratory that allows for automated DNA extraction through robotics; and 75 security cameras throughout building.
Nello Construction performed general contracting services, Astorino was the architect and DCK Worldwide worked as construction manager.
Published by www.popcitymedia.com
Writer: Caralyn Green
Sources: Kevin Evanto, and Dr. Karl Williams, medical examiner, Allegheny County