New Medical Examiner Facility Wins Award for Unique Design Features

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What is the true color of blood? It may seem like a strange question, but the design of the new Medical Examiner and Forensic Center sheds light on the issue – literally. The use of natural light is just one of the details that earned the center an award from the San Diego chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The Medical Examiner Center received a Citation Award, which recognizes noteworthy architectural skill or vision in design. Judges highlighted the center’s use of natural light, especially in the lab and procedure areas to help staff identify true colors when doing an exam or looking at a specimen.

The Medical Examiner and Forensic Center was also recognized for superior craftsmanship and attention to detail, providing a calming environment in the Bereavement Center and other public areas.

The 84,000-square-foot facility in Kearny Mesa opened in December and came in on time and under budget. It meets silver-level LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, and has also been recognized by the California Legislature and the San Diego County Taxpayers Association.

Visit the Medical Examiner's website to see photos of the building from groundbreaking to completion, and check out the video to see the hi-tech features at the new facility.



Attn: COC Staff! How do you get to work?

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As many around the County are aware, the COC on Overland Ave. is undergoing a massive renovation.

The project will not only upgrade the facilities for the current occupants. It will also consolidate a number of other functions on the campus to improve service levels to the public. To make this possible, a handful of departments are relocating staff from outlying offices into the new COC facilities.

In the case of DEH, its headquarters is moving from the Mills Building, a mass transit hub in downtown San Diego, to the Kearny Mesa area, where public transportation options are limited. In an effort to address employees' growing concerns, a Transportation Workgroup was formed with representatives from all  occupying departments at the COC.

The main objective of the group is to find new solutions to the commuting issue. Another point of interest is to alleviate parking and traffic in the area by filtering more employees to the campus through alternative modes of transportation. Concepts that have been discussed range from car and van pool groups to the use of new technology to allow for flexible work schedules and telecommuting.

The Workgroup is off to a good start but it could use some fresh ideas and as much support as it can get. The group invites anyone interested to participate; it especially needs people that have used alternative transportation and those who travel above average distances because the experience insight they have to offer are invaluable.

The focus area is Kearny Mesa, but ideas developed at this group may provide a model that can be used throughout the County in the future.  The link below has a survey the Workgroup is conducting to gauge employees' interest   

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2tvbmz2g7hrngat/start)

For more information on the COC Transportation Workgroup and how you can participate, please contact Michael Vizzier from DEH. News on the COC Redevelopment Project can be found at http://www.lowecoc.com/                



 

Movies in the Park Starts Tonight

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The County of San Diego Department of Parks and Recreation has teamed up with the cities of San Diego, Coronado, National City, La Mesa, San Marcos, Poway and Oceanside to expand the “Movies in the Park” series.

“This is a great way to enjoy a free activity with your family while taking advantage of the many great parks in our area,” said Brian Albright, Director of County Parks and Recreation.

Twenty-nine movies are scheduled to be shown at local parks and pools, making it the largest free movie event in the County. The program kicks off June 4 with a showing of “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” in Oceanside and continues through September 18. Other movies on the schedule include box office hits such as “Avatar,” “Up” and “The Blind Side” as well as classics such as “American Graffiti” and “The Sandlot.”  The movies will be shown in high-quality digital on a 28-foot inflatable widescreen specially designed for large audiences. 

Families can enjoy pre-movie activities including karaoke battles, games, music and contests.  Participants are encouraged to bring a chair, blanket and refreshments.

All movies are free, open to the public and begin at dusk.  Some locations do have a parking fee.  For a list of dates and locations, please visit www.sdparks.org, and click on “Movies in the Park.”