FOR PIMA COUNTY
The Pima County Office of the Medical Examiner facility is a premier example of modern civic architecture in the Sonoran Desert and genuine successful project design collaboration. Poster Mirto McDonald was thrilled to serve as the local expert in the true partnership with forensic design experts SmithGroup on a new building that doubled the capacity of the County's previous operations to support their expanding regional responsibilities across Southern Arizona. The facility is organized into two distinct zones: a thoughtful, modern administrative wing and a state-of-the-art forensic suite with a six-station autopsy area, advanced wet and dry anthropology labs, observation gallery, and specialized cold storage. At the heart of the complex is a central courtyard featuring a hanging colorful glass public art piece by Troy Neiman and a memorial columbarium. This intentional design element balances the highly specialized, technical nature of medical investigations, anchors the facility as a resilient and important resource in the community, and provides an inviting public interface that honors and respects the sensitive needs of grieving families.
Grounded in regional sustainability, the project's design principles focus heavily on environmental stewardship and human-centric wellness. The building incorporates passive solar shading and native desert landscaping to harmonize with its surrounding environment while outperforming standard energy efficiency targets. Beyond its eco-friendly features, the building design prioritized the mental and physical well-being of the staff, curating daylit workspaces that help mitigate the stressors of this type of work. By balancing rigorous technical demands with a compassionate, locally rooted design, this project sets a standard for forensic architecture, civil presence, and meaningful design collaboration.
PROJECT INFORMATION:
Partner Architect: SmithGroup
Location: Tucson, AZ
Completion Year: 2024
Size: 32,600 SF
Cost: $37,000,000
Contractor (CMAR): Kitchell Contractors, Inc.
Photography: Matt Winquist Photography and Logan Havens
AWARDS:
2025 LEED Silver Certification
2026 Arizona Chapter of the American Public Works Association (APWA) Project of the Year