We’re excited to unveil the new 10,000 SF Forensic regional Laboratory in dothan!
The new ADFS lab in Dothan is one of eight facilities in the state’s renowned crime lab system. This 10,000-square-foot, single-story building is purpose-built for Drug Chemistry and designed to meet the highest scientific, safety, and security standards.
A daylit lobby with expansive views through the exterior storefront welcomes visitors, while areas beyond the public zone are designed with increasing levels of access restriction to ensure maximum security. The intake area and conference center, located within a semi-restricted zone, support evidence processing and law enforcement training.
Drug Chemistry laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical instrumentation and benefit from optimized daylight and exterior views. Highly specialized forensic services are housed in secured areas accessed via restricted corridors.
The well-being of staff is a central design principle, reflected in the inclusion of collaborative workspaces, dedicated respite areas, and a private patio.
“The new state-of-the-art forensic laboratory was designed to improve efficiency, expand laboratory capacity, and utilize the latest forensic technologies. The primary functions of the Dothan Laboratory are to reduce turnaround time for evidence analysis, increase capacity to process cases, support more efficient prosecutions and a stronger justice system, and enhance community safety by effectively tackling drug-related crime.”
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Site landscaping has been carefully placed to minimize disruption to the existing natural environment while providing shading and expansive views from the interior labs. A staff patio, looking toward the adjacent forest line, interfaces with the surrounding pastoral setting to provide an intimate respite ensconced in nature.
The main restricted corridor, serving as a gallery space with expansive glazing, enables the facility to showcase the transparency of its processes and technology, while educating visitors and preserving the security of its mission. Legislators, students, and law enforcement officers, among others, will experience the dependability and precision of forensic science in this manner. Transparency and ample daylighting are prioritized throughout the facility, both in office and laboratory spaces, creating a healthy and uplifting environment for staff.
Photographer - Rob Culpepper
contractor - saliba construction company
electrical - muya engineering
civil - caprine engineering
structural - mba engineers
mechanical - enfra (formerly bernhard)
landscape architect - kelly landscape architects
“The pursuit of justice is our only objective, and we are limited in this pursuit only by the laws of science and medicine.”