Marathon County’s primary objective was to establish a regional medical examiner building that could efficiently serve the entire area, eliminating the need to obtain medical examiner services at nearby regional facilities such as Minneapolis, MN or Madison, WI. This overarching goal emphasized the critical importance of creating a local state-of-the-art facility capable of meeting the highest standards in forensic science. The facility will live adjacent to Northcentral Technical College, which also presents a unique opportunity to create a space that not only serves its primary purpose but also acts as an educational resource for students interested in a career in forensic sciences.
The new facility design features three medical exam tables distributed across two rooms, an additional x-ray room, intake areas, an observation room, a sally port, and office space for a team of 16 staff members. Unique to forensic science, the area demanded a meticulous approach to sanitary finishes and an intuitive workflow.
In close collaboration with McLaren, Wilson Lawrie—the nation’s premiere medical examiner designer—careful planning went into creating a layout that reduced the manual lifting of decedents, demonstrating a commitment to both efficiency and dignity. Building tours, incorporating insights from the current medical examiner spaces and workflows, provided essential context for the design process.
