The TPD Forensic Laboratory is a two-story 62,377 SF state-of-the-art science facility providing a safe and secure working environment for forensic examiners. It houses the Forensic Lab Administration, Quality Assurance, Trace Chemicals, Arson, Explosives, Drugs, Evidence Control, Firearms (including a firing range), Forensic Biology, Latent Fingerprints, Toxicology, and the Forensic Electronic Media Unit. Each group has dedicated laboratory space on the north side of the building and office space on the south side.
Between the office and laboratory wings is a daylit atrium with crisscrossing bridges, clerestory windows, and an open monumental stair. The atrium serves as a space for spontaneous collaboration between disciplines with casual tables and chairs for the forensic examiners. Each major entry into the lab and office suites is highlighted by dynamic, colorful masses with integrated displays evocative of the forensic activities happening inside.
The forensic examiners work to establish truths about case evidence using the scientific principles of chemistry, biology, and physics. To effectively analyze evidence, the facility provides open bench space, specialized laboratories, and complex analytical instruments configured with building systems that preserve the health and safety of occupants. All the labs are on the north side of the building to take advantage of the indirect natural lighting to aid in the forensic examination and the comfort of the forensic examiners.
Sustainable design features include the collection of rainwater from the roof, air conditioning condensate, and backwash from a water purification system to a 40,000-gallon underground cistern to supply 100% of the campus irrigation needs.
In addition, large roof overhangs and light shelves to shade the windows during the summer, low-flow plumbing fixtures including waterless urinals and dual-flush toilets, walls and roofs with high thermal resistance, and spectrally selective films for glazing and skylights are sustainable design features that add to the energy efficiency of the facility.
The highly efficient mechanical system consists of variable air volume units with a hydronic terminal reheat system, advanced filtration, frictionless chillers, and heat recovery units to recapture energy in the lab exhaust air. These are tied to constant volume fixed face opening hoods in the labs to simplify the control sequence of the lab exhaust while ensuring the safety of the lab occupants.
Energy usage is further reduced by systems that control the lights via occupancy and daylight sensors that automatically control the positioning of motorized bottom-up window shades which track the sun to prevent direct solar radiation from penetrating the space. This system alone offsets ten percent of the building’s energy use, which is double the City of Tucson’s 5% solar off-set requirement.
“Long-term value is about people, providing an environment for staff to thrive and be efficient, effective, and safe. Short-term value is everything that helps the bottom line, from daylight to water recovery.”
- Paul Mickelberg, AIA, President WSM Architects, Inc.
