Hennepin County Medical Examiner

A new medical examiner’s facility, which provides forensic death investigation and autopsy services for deaths that occur in Hennepin, Dakota and Scott counties, will be built on 8 acres along County Road 62 in Minnetonka. The new 64,000-square foot building, anticipated to be open in 2021, will neighbor the Glen Lake Golf Center and Hennepin County Home School. The overall design vision is to create a facility that supports the forensic death investigation operations and supports the mental, emotional and social health of the staff and doctors that deal with the often-challenging nature of their business. The facility is nestled into a suburban woodland capturing views from staff offices, training and break areas into natural forests, prairies, and wetlands. The design team selected natural native materials to reduce stress levels and to encourage personal respite during a long difficult workday. Curving core-ten edging and stone gabion walls help define natural topographic boundaries as well as outdoor gathering social spaces.