Forensic Science and Protective Medicine Facility
Advancing Forensic Science Through a Connected, Human-Centered Facility
The Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory brings forensic science, protective medicine, and emergency management together within a single, purpose-built facility on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus. Designed to strengthen operational coordination and statewide service delivery, the facility supports the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Forensic Sciences alongside Milwaukee County’s Medical Examiner and the Office of Emergency Management.
The consolidated program accommodates a broad range of specialized forensic functions, including firearms, NIBIN and toolmarks, trace analysis, crime scene processing, evidence intake and storage, DNA and CODIS, toxicology, photography, pathology and autopsy, latent prints and AFIS, footwear impression analysis, and laboratory administration. Training spaces and an emergency management call center further extend the facility’s role beyond laboratory analysis, creating a central resource for investigation, response, and professional development.
Human-centered design shaped the laboratory environment. Planning strategies address accessibility, inclusion, sustainability, safety, and well-being alongside the technical demands of forensic science.
Daylight and views are incorporated throughout the laboratory spaces, while ergonomic planning and adjustable workstations support scientists during highly focused work. These strategies balance occupant comfort with the complex infrastructure required for precise laboratory operations.
That complexity extends throughout the building’s mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Specialized laboratory and autopsy functions require carefully coordinated infrastructure that supports demanding technical requirements while maintaining efficient workflows. Bringing these systems together with workplace environments allowed the design to address both the performance of the facility and the daily experience of the people working within it.
The facility’s location on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center campus creates another important connection. Proximity to a major medical and research campus positions the Crime Lab and Medical Examiner functions alongside clinicians, researchers, and students, opening opportunities for collaboration, education, and professional training.
By consolidating previously separate functions within a shared facility, the project creates a coordinated environment for forensic science and protective medicine in Wisconsin. The combination of specialized laboratories, training and emergency management resources, human-centered workplaces, and connections to the surrounding medical campus provides a foundation for advancing forensic investigation, research, and education across the state.
