At UrbanToronto our thirst for knowledge of every corner of this great city takes us to the doorstep of a huge variety of buildings. Whether standing in an old prison on a long disused gallows or at the top of an under-construction skyscraper with sweeping views, the uniting factor is architecture.

A recent trip took us to up to the Keele and Wilson area to catch up with construction at a number of sites there. Yesterday we caught you up with work at the new Humber River Regional Hospital. Across the street from it, a recently completed landmark is now home to an increasingly technologically-driven profession.   

Forensic Services and Coroner's Complex, image by Jack Landau

The new Forensic Services and Coroner’s Complex (FSCC) is a purpose-built facility capable of serving the operational needs of the Centre of Forensic Sciences, the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service (OFPU).

Forensic Services and Coroner's Complex viewed from the west, image by Jack Landau

The WZMH Architects-designed five-storey structure makes use of ample natural lighting and sight-lines to the exterior for spaces such as offices, laboratories, autopsy stations, and the two courtrooms operated by the OCC. Departments housed in the facility include chemistry, firearms, document and photo analysis, biology, toxicology and electronics.  

Forensic Services and Coroner's Complex viewed from the east, image by Jack Landau

The clean, modern architecture here belies the seriousness of the work that goes on behind the facade. As a state-the-art forensics lab, FSCC also includes vehicle examination bays, ballistics facilities, and Canada’s first Containment Level 3 autopsy suite. The new facility will improve the OFPU’s ability to cope with a mass fatality event such as an airplane crash or any number of situations which we do not care to think too hard about. 

Forensic Services and Coroner's Complex's west façade, image by Jack Landau

For additional information and renderings, please visit the dataBase page listed below.