MECHANICSVILLE, VA — Skanska announces the completion of the new Central Region Forensic Laboratory for the Virginia Department of Forensic Science (DFS) and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) in Mechanicsville, Virginia.
The four-story, 281,425-square-foot facility will enhance the Commonwealth’s ability to provide critical forensic services to the criminal justice system while promoting public safety and health across Virginia.
Delivered in partnership with the Virginia Department of General Services, the $193 million project represents a significant investment in the commonwealth’s forensic infrastructure. The new laboratory consolidates advanced forensic and medical examiner operations into a modern, purpose-built environment designed to support innovation, efficiency, and collaboration.
“Delivering a project of this scale required a commitment to precision, partnership, and nearly 2 million hours of working safely,” said Mark Balling, Executive Vice President responsible for Skanska’s Mid-Atlantic building operations. “We’re proud to have the opportunity to support the Commonwealth on this highly specialized facility that will support the Department of Forensic Science and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in serving Virginians for generations.”
Designed by SFCS Architects, the new complex provides the DFS with laboratory space for forensic disciplines including firearms and toolmarks, latent prints and impressions, digital and multimedia evidence, controlled substances, trace evidence, toxicology, and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. The building also includes dedicated spaces for breath alcohol calibration, secure evidence storage, and areas designed for training and ongoing research initiatives.
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For the OCME, the project delivers modern autopsy suites, for histology and radiology laboratories, and facilities supporting the State Anatomical Program and forensic anthropology. Administrative offices for both DFS and OCME are located within the building, enhancing coordination and strengthening efficiency.
Operating from a regional headquarters in Durham, North Carolina, Skanska USA Building currently has more than $1 billion in projects in progress across its Mid-Atlantic region.
