The new Denver Crime Laboratory will provide new state of the art criminal investigation facilities to enhance Denver Police operations in bringing resolution to crimes. The Lab, located at 1371 Cherokee Street, will be a 60,000 square foot, stand-alone, multi-story building; which is significantly larger than the existing 14,000 square foot facility currently housed in the Denver Police Administration Building. The larger space will enable the Denver Crime Laboratory Bureau to offer improved forensic and evidence-handling resources to scientists and investigators and to consolidate its units under one roof and provide capacity for on-site vehicle examinations, which are currently being conducted at external district police offices.
Additionally, under the City's commitment to Greenprint Denver initiatives, the lab is being designed and constructed with the goal of achieving Certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) through sustainable construction approaches recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council. The new lab's design has addressed energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and improved indoor air quality.
Construction of the $36 million bond-funded facility began March 2011, with completion anticipated by summer 2012. Durrant Smith Group is the architectural design firm for the lab and JE DUNN is the construction firm.