McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. has completed construction of the new Johnson County Medical Examiner Facility, a 32,000-SF, single-story building designed to meet the highest standards of the National Association of Medical Examiners (N.A.M.E.).
Located at 11894 S. Sunset Drive in Olathe, Kan., the facility is located in the heart of the Johnson County Government Campus, adjacent to the crime lab as well as other county buildings.
The $21-million, energy-efficient facility, which broke ground in December 2018, recently opened this month (August 2020).
The newly designed building will aid staff to increase autopsy rates to meet national benchmarks and scientific requirements, as well as provide reliable data for public health officials to identify trends and emerging diseases. The staff includes toxicologists, a medical death investigator, autopsy technicians and administrative staff.
Throughout construction, the McCarthy team demonstrated the efficiency and value of using advanced technology to build and refine the space.
3D technology enabled the medical examiner and staff to virtually experience the completed space during construction. This included McCarthy’s three-dimensional (3D) virtual construction mockups that simulated actual workspace areas, enabling Dr. Diane C. Peterson, Johnson County coroner and chief medical examiner, to be directly involved in designing the autopsy surgery space to ensure the equipment is accurately positioned and in the ideal location, allowing design refinements to fine-tune the space during construction.
“While physical mockups are commonly used to test and fine-tune the functionality of spaces prior to construction, they are not practical on budget-conscious projects or for unique spaces that are not replicated many times within the same facility,” said Eric Dill, project manager for McCarthy Building Companies-Kansas City.
“Virtual mockups enable construction teams to actively engage stakeholders in the design and construction process,” Dill said.
The 3D modeling technology used by McCarthy’s in-house Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) team has a lifespan beyond construction, as Johnson County will be able to access and use the 3D model to help facilitate future maintenance and upgrades to maximize long-term value.
Virtual design and construction technology also resulted in significant time and cost savings for Johnson County by ensuring efficient coordination of all mechanical, engineering and plumbing (MEP) systems to meet different requirements for the toxicology lab, autopsy lab and morgue space.
The energy recovery ventilation system delivers 100 percent fresh air to autopsy and lab interior spaces while extracting energy from exhaust air to help heat and cool the building before releasing exhaust air outside.
Features of the building include a light-filled glass public entrance that leads to secure areas for staff and lab work, two conference rooms, an observation area and a multipurpose room. To ensure safety and privacy, the receiving area is located behind a secure fence and through a sally port, a fully-enclosed and secure space within the building.
In addition to McCarthy Building Companies, the project team included PGAV Architects, SmithGroup, Henderson Engineers, McClure and Confluence.