Washoe County begins construction of new Medical Examiner’s Office

New state-of-the-art facility scheduled to open December 2016.

Reno, Nevada. Dec. 15, 2015. Washoe County hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, marking the beginning of an 11-month construction project to build the new Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

The new facility will be built on Washoe County-owned land between E. 9th Street and Interstate 80, one block east of Wells Avenue, across from the Washoe County Administrative Complex. The $10.77 million state-of-the-art facility is paid for through the Washoe County Capital Improvement Program and is expected to open in December of 2016.

“The Medical Examiner’s Office is in need of a more modern facility and much larger facility that can handle the increasing demand we are seeing with an ever-growing population not only in Washoe County but the surrounding areas that the ME’s Office serves,” Commission Chair Marsha Berkbigler said. “This is the first time in more than a decade Washoe County has built a new facility and I’m sure the new Medical Examiner’s Office will be a place we will all be proud of.”

The new construction will replace the Medical Examiner’s Office on Kirman Avenue which was constructed in 1959 and last renovated in 2003. The current site has inadequate parking and is too small for current operations. The cost to maintain the building has increased and the building is no longer suitable for its current use.

The new facility will be more modern and equipped with the capabilities required to better serve citizens of Washoe County and the surrounding areas. The Washoe County Medical Examiner provides services to the citizens of Washoe County and is a regional provider to 13 other counties in Nevada and five counties in northern California.

“We truly appreciate the consistent support and creative prowess of the architectural firms and local construction agents we’ve worked with in bringing this project to the fruition,” Washoe County Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Ellen Clark said. “The many agencies and, importantly, citizens that we serve very much need the new ME Office.  It offers great opportunity for enhanced service capabilities.”

For more information about the department, visit Washoe County’s website at https://www.washoecounty.us/coroner/.

Fact Sheet

• Learn more details about the new building.

Photos & Video

• View a rendering of the ME’s Facility and Office.
• View a rendering of the autopsy room looking north.
• Watch video of the current Medical Examiner’s Office.