Volusia County to break ground on new Medical Examiner Facility.

Written by Kristen Schmutz

Belden Communications News 

Volusia County is getting ready to break ground on the new Medical Examiners Facility next to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office at 3891 Tiger bay Road in Daytona Beach. The official groundbreaking will be on Friday, September 9, 2022, at 9 a.m., and two or more Volusia County Council members plan to attend. 

According to a release, the state-of-the-art facility will support normal operations and mass disaster situations while making improvements in the following areas: 

• Personnel safety
• Storage capacity
• Air quality
• Flexibility for additional forensic pathologists and investigators, Facilities for the bereaved
• Community outreach,
• Education for law enforcement and health professionals. 

The 20,000-square-foot building will feature 24-hour climate control, a secure entryway, an autopsy suite, a tissue recovery room, and evidence storage. Other features include a fully integrated building automation system, security surveillance and access control, safety showers and eye wash stations, a fiber optic network, and a long list of additional safety elements and technical innovations.

“The experience and knowledge the county brought to bear on this building are so impressive,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. James Fulcher. “When I look at the plans, I am so proud. I recognize the hard work and time spent discussing the best way to design and build. When we move in, our efficiency and ability to teach is only going to get better.”

The new building will allow the Office of the District Medical Examiner to achieve accreditation through the National Association of Medical Examiners.

The project is estimated at $18.4 million and should be complete by fall 2023.