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The newest crime-solving technology isn’t scripted on a movie set; it’s everyday reality at the new Hertzberg-Davis Forensic Science Center at California State University, Los Angeles.
With a price tag of $102 million, the new facility houses the combined laboratory expertise of the Los Angeles police and sheriff’s departments as well as California State University’s School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics and the California Forensic Science Institute.
Harley Ellis Devereaux provided project management, architectural and interior design and mechanical and electrical engineering support; partner companies Crime Lab Design provided laboratory consulting and planning services and GreenWorks Studio provided LEED/sustainable design consulting and building commissioning services for the new, 209,000 square foot facility housed on the campus of California State University, Los Angeles.
“Combining multiple agencies under one roof is a trend that is gaining momentum in laboratory design across the country as well as internationally,” said Steve Moodie, project manager for the new crime lab. “The multiple agencies combined within this facility will benefit from an ongoing exchange of information, sharing of ideas and expertise as well as invaluable education and training opportunities.”
Lou Hartman, PE, principal in charge of the project, said forensic laboratories must meet rigorous expectations due to the highly visible nature of the work.
“The technical work performed in these labs must be able to withstand any evidentiary challenge,” he said. “From a design standpoint, this means that the labs must be highly flexible to accommodate new advances in technology and equipment.”
Crime Lab Design has designed more than 40 crime labs throughout the United States and has recently expanded its services internationally.
Q & A with project management firm Harley Ellis Devereaux
Q. What was Harley Ellis Devereaux’s involvement with this project?
A. Harley Ellis Devereaux Corporation provided a number of services through its partner companies Harley Ellis Devereaux, Crime Lab Design and GreenWorks Studio. Specifically, Harley Ellis Devereaux provided project management, architectural and interior design, and mechanical and electrical engineering support. Crime Lab Design, in partnership with HERA (Health, Education + Research Associates), nationally-known laboratory facilities planners, provided laboratory consulting and planning services. GreenWorks Studio consulted on sustainable design enhancements and energy modeling to achieve U.S. Green Building Council LEED sustainable design rating, as well as full building commissioning services.
Q. What are the unique design features of this facility?
A. The collaborative union of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, California State University Los Angeles School of Criminal Justice and Criminalistics and the State Department of Justice Bureau of Forensic Services’ California Criminalistics Institute under one roof is a unique arrangement that will leverage resources and expertise in this 209,000 square foot, state-of-the-art forensic center. This “multi-agency” consolidation encourages the sharing of information and the exchange of ideas and expertise and also offers the practical benefits of a reduction in total staff needs and reduced operating costs from a “shared facilities” standpoint. From a design perspective, these collaborative spaces offered interesting design challenges in creating flexible and efficient laboratory spaces that meet the initial and future needs of each department within each agency. In addition, the concept of a unified state laboratory is new for many researchers who have been accustomed to working in their own space in a separate building. As a result, the need to design both indoor and outdoor collaborative spaces to encourage interaction among researchers is critical, while simultaneously maintaining the required separation and security for each.
Q. What types of sustainable/green features were designed into the facility?
A. There are a number of sustainable design components. Inside, some of the Center’s green features include enhanced indoor air quality, advanced daylighting controls, and high performance heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems. Outside features include a rainstore for the use of recycled water for landscaping. In addition, in keeping with requirements for the State of California, the facility is designed to be LEED-certified, Silver level.
Q. Are you involved in any other crime lab projects currently? How is crime lab design different? What kinds of trends are you seeing in crime lab design?
A. We have extensive experience in crime lab design, with more than 40 crime labs in 24 states; and we’re now extending our reach internationally.
Because of the nature of the work, forensic laboratories must meet rigorous expectations. The technical work performed in forensic labs must be able to withstand any evidentiary challenge. Cost cutting that would jeopardize a lab’s testing quality cannot be an option.
With forensic science facilities, change is inevitable and planning for it is crucial. Trends include designing facilities for multi-agency use as well as designing the labs to be flexible to accommodate scientific and forensic advances. Cutting edge automated equipment, such as robotics, is being utilized more frequently and lab space design must be flexible to accommodate these new advances. In addition, labs must be outfitted to accommodate the technology needed for the sharing of information by an adjacent office, another facility or in other locations around the world.
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