Laserfiche WebLink
10 | MWA ARCHITECTS <br />The new medical examiner’s (ME) office provides state-of-the <br />art forensic essential services to many communities in the <br />Eastern Washington, Northern Idaho, Montana and Oregon <br />regions . Situated near the south edge of the University District, <br />the project called for renovation and expansion of an existing <br />building . The design process included projecting the needs of <br />the medical examiner’s office for 50 years and ensured the final <br />design would support the region’s growth in that time . <br />There was not sufficient room in the existing building footprint <br />to accommodate the 50-year program that the facility required . <br />Therefore, a second floor was added to the rear third of the <br />building . This affords year-round protection for the dual HVAC <br />systems and a generator capable of supplying all building elec- <br />trical requirements in an emergency . <br />The facility has three rooms with multiple tables for conducting <br />autopsies, quiet spaces to record observations, office spaces, <br />storage rooms and a room where families of the deceased can <br />have a private discussion . <br />The slabs in the ME exhibited sub-surface settling and needed <br />to be replaced with a new 4-inch slab for under-floor ducts, <br />new plumbing piping and autopsy floors sloped to drain . <br />There is an enclosed sallyport to afford a safe, secure and <br />weatherproof area for staff to transport from vehicles to the <br />building . There are specially designed spaces for collection and <br />refuse pickup of hazardous materials, chemical waste, and <br />soiled laundry . <br />The facility has the capability of storing up to 100 bodies and a <br />provision to move two 40-foot self-contained cooler modules <br />on site for disaster preparedness . <br />key features <br /> »New construction of Medical Examiner’s Office <br /> »Designed to serve present and future needs <br /> »The building features a Lodox machine, which can rapidly complete full-body X-ray scans . <br />project information <br />Project Team: McClaren, Wilson & Lawrie (MWL) <br />Project Type: Medical Examiner’s Office <br />Size: 24,000 SF <br />Client: Spokane County <br />Spokane County Medical Examiner’s Office <br />spokane, washington