D.C. Consolidated Forensics Laboratory - Washington, D.C.

ReStl Designers provided structural engineering services for the D.C. Consolidated Forensics Laboratory, a 351,000 SF, state-of-the-art facility that brings together the District’s public safety, forensic science, and public health departments. The building’s complexity and mission-critical purpose required a structural solution that could support both precision and resilience.

Achieving LEED Platinum certification, the facility incorporates high-performance sustainability features—including a 30,000 SF green roof designed to reclaim up to 2 million gallons of rainwater annually. ReStl’s structural team engineered the building to accommodate these heavy rooftop loads, along with a runoff reclamation cistern and robust substructure integration.

Key structural elements include long-span framing systems for vibration-sensitive forensic labs, hardened zones for secure operations, and support for chilled beam HVAC systems and exterior solar shading devices. The building's high-efficiency envelope and dynamic façade systems—like automated fritted glass louvers—were all enabled by precise structural coordination and detailing.