Stemmons Corridor: Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science

**dfwcre8tive** · 19 January 2007, 07:02 PM

I noticed today that the tall building at 2355 Stemmons (across from the recently demolished Apparel Mart) is fenced off with demolition signs. Does anyone know more about this project? After searching online I found the following entry to this blog.

From the mad blogger, Kevin Krause.

It’s supposed to be Dallas County’s most complex building to date, according to staff. But there aren’t many takers to build the new $34 million Southwestern Institute of Forensic Science building. The county only received a single bid to construct the facility, which will house the crime lab and medical examiner’s office.

Shannon Brown, the county’s purchasing director, said it’s the first time a sole bid has come in on such a large project. Dan Savage, the county's assistant commissioners court administrator, said his office can determine whether it’s a good bid or not. But Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield wants staff to extend the deadline to try to get more bids.

Mr. Savage said a delay isn’t a good idea due to rising construction costs. He said he should be able to open the bid to see what it is. “We may or may not have a good bid,” he told commissioners on Tuesday. Commissioner Maurine Dickey said the sole bidder should not be penalized for getting its bid in on time.

The facility will be built at 2355 Stemmons Freeway after the existing structure on that location is demolished.

**carousel** · 20 January 2007, 03:36 PM

Anyone have pics of the current structure?

**I45Tex** · 20 January 2007, 10:21 PM

http://www.dallascad.org//ShowImage....-B&w=400&h=300

http://dallascad.org/AcctDetailCom.a...00502360000000

13 storey, 169Ksf, erected in 1966

**SDORN** · 29 March 2007, 11:49 AM

I have confirmed photographically that the Bright building is being torn down. They are 1/3 of the way done.

Photos coming soon

**psukhu** · 29 March 2007, 12:08 PM

Yeah, I've been watching that over the past week. That's a tall building to tear down.

**3rd time the charm** · 29 March 2007, 12:19 PM

What are they going to do with the land?

**SDORN** · 29 March 2007, 12:27 PM

Nor sure I have heard Apartments though

**Rob** · 29 March 2007, 12:49 PM

Which building is this?

**dfwcre8tive** · 29 March 2007, 01:56 PM

Is it the building in this thread ?

**VectorWega** · 29 March 2007, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by 3rd time the charm

What are they going to do with the land?

The Institute of Forensic Science Building will be built there. This is an old article...obviously they are behind on the demolition:

"Institute of Forensic Science Building Replacement
The existing IFS facility is located in the heart of the Parkland Hospital and UT Southwestern Medical School campus. The Institute includes two sections: the Medical Examiner and the Crime Laboratory. The building was originally built in the late 1960's, and later renovated in the early 1980's. The facility currently provides approximately 50,000 square feet and has very limited access such as parking and visitor's areas.

The proposed facility will be built on the county-owned property located at 2355 Stemmons Freeway, adjacent to the County's Health & Human Services Building. The 12 story building currently occupying that property is scheduled for demolition in June 2006, and construction of the new facility will begin shortly thereafter."

Source: http://www.dallascounty.org/departme...rprojects.html

Is it the building in this thread ?

Yep.

**Justin Terveen** · 29 March 2007, 11:58 PM

I think this may be it... Shot from the levee.

**SDORN** · 30 March 2007, 12:17 AM

Yeppers!!

**dfwcre8tive** · 30 March 2007, 02:00 AM

Here's video of the demolition progress:

http://www.wfaa.com/video/index.html?nvid=131991&shu=1

**jsoto3** · 30 March 2007, 10:44 AM

Threads merged.

**SDORN** · 31 March 2007, 12:53 AM

Thanks.

**SDORN** · 07 April 2007, 08:50 PM

**Geaux Tigers** · 07 April 2007, 09:24 PM

Seems like a good site for an implosion.

**Mephis Gooseberry** · 07 April 2007, 11:09 PM

Nice shot, powerful statement, Mr. Dorn.

**SDORN** · 07 April 2007, 11:11 PM

Thank you sir
yes it is and frankly I am so sick of these teardown here lately. Looks like Hard rock is next.

**msutton** · 08 April 2007, 12:25 PM

developers chipping away at dallas' young character one step at a time.

**Hannibal Lecter** · 08 April 2007, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by msutton

developers chipping away at dallas' young character one step at a time.

Damn those evil developers!

I guess it doesn't matter this building is being torn down by the county so they can build more government offices....

**RobertB** · 09 April 2007, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Geaux Tigers

Seems like a good site for an implosion.

I saw the demo for the first time over the weekend and thought the same thing. Why not just set some charges and scrape the site?

I'm sure it has to do with cost -- maybe this building was just short enough to reach with the big wrecking ball. Or maybe the contractor just likes to do things the old-fashioned way. Like building sandcastles and demolishing them with a spoon, one scoop at a time.

**JohnMcKee** · 21 August 2008, 02:38 PM

Construction has begun on the Dallas County Institute for Forensic Science, a $44-million-dollar, 110,000-square-foot project with a three-story forensics lab, a two-story administration area, and a one-story autopsy and morgue facility.

It'll replace an existing forensic facility. Construction is being done by McCarthy Building Companies, who are currently working on the new $61.7 million Dallas County Detention Center South Tower.

Located on Stemmons Freeway south of Motor Street, the new facility will house 120 employees and will feature leading-edge forensic and laboratory design. Collection, preservation, and forensic analysis of evidence will take place on all three floors of the forensic laboratory. Case-preparing and evidence review will take place mostly on the first floor, which also features classrooms, conference facilities, and facilities for testing ammunition and weapons. Drug analysis, toxicology, and DNA instruments labs will be on the third floor.

"This forensic sciences facility contains many technically sophisticated systems and equipment which require extra care and planning during the construction process," said James Leppo, Project Director for McCarthy's Texas Division. "The project is equivalent to the facilities seen on CSI Miami and CSI Las Vegas. It is already being referred to as 'CSI Dallas'."

The project architect is Dallas-based HKS, Inc. Construction began in June and is expected to conclude in spring 2009.

I drive by this place twice a day, it looks like it might actually be ahead of schedule but 44 million dollars and HKS and they end up with a huge unscreened cooling tower on top? It's even shown unscreened on the McCarthy rendering

**freewaytincan** · 23 August 2008, 10:34 PM

Sweet parking lots.

**JohnMcKee** · 19 September 2009, 11:39 PM

Sorry for the awful photo, I took it with my iPhone while trying to drive in traffic on 35:

Anyways, can someone please explain what they were thinking on the cooling tower? I drive by it every day and all I see is the cooling tower and the ugly metal fence they used to screen a very small part of it. I don't get it, it's huge, visually offensive structure on what would otherwise be a fine looking (Well, it is boring looking, but I mean, it is a county morgue so I'm going to be a little forgiving).

I don't understand, why would you do something like that? It's like they went out of their way to ruin any visual appeal this prominent structure had. Could they not just stick it behind the building, or fully screened on the side, really anything but just sticking it on the top like some complete afterthought?