Tampa Police State-of-the-Art Forensics and Evidence Annex Project Begins News Tampa Police TAMPA, FL. (AUGUST 11, 2026) - - The City of Tampa and the Tampa Police Department[...]

TAMPA, FL. (AUGUST 11, 2026) - - The City of Tampa and the Tampa Police Department marked the start of a major adaptive reuse project converting the vacant Howard Avenue Annex building into a secure, state-of-the-art complex for the Tampa Police Department Forensics Investigations Unit, Evidence Section, and impound lot.

"By transforming an existing city-owned warehouse into a centralized, state-of-the-art facility for our crime scene investigators, evidence technicians, and forensic analysts, we are ensuring our police department has the modern resources required to remain one of the nation's leading agencies," said Mayor Jane Castor. "Through a highly competitive bidding process that reduced projected costs from $40 million to nearly $27 million, we are delivering this critical Forensics and Evidence Annex while demonstrating our absolute commitment to the efficient use of taxpayer dollars. This project is a massive win for Tampa, streamlining our public safety operations under one roof while actively investing in our local workforce."

"Our current evidence storage and forensic facilities are quickly becoming outdated and inadequate for a modern police force," added Acting Chief Brett Owen. "By centralizing our forensic and evidence efforts into one upgraded location, we eliminate the need for cross-town transport and improve safeguarding the chain of evidence. This will speed up investigation turnaround times, directly supporting our mission to find justice for victims and serve our community with even greater precision."

"Kokolakis is honored to partner with the City of Tampa to bring its vision for the Tampa Police Department's Howard Avenue Annex Building to life. This modernization and expansion project will enhance the department's operational capabilities while providing a state-of-the-art facility that supports the dedicated officers and professional staff who serve and protect our community every day," said Roderick Voigt, Executive Vice President of Kokolakis. "We are proud to continue our longstanding partnership with the City of Tampa and are committed to delivering a high-quality facility that will strengthen public safety, improve operational efficiency, and serve the community for generations to come."

The Tampa Police Forensics and Evidence Annex, expected to be completed by May 2028, centers on the adaptive reuse and renovation of the roughly 38,000-square-foot warehouse, paired with a 7,300-square-foot expansion. It will bring the department's Evidence Section, Forensic Investigations Unit, impound lot, and related personnel workspace functions together in a single location. Instead of forensic and evidence operations being spread across various locations citywide, including downtown headquarters and McKay Bay, completion of this project will allow the department to consolidate personnel, labs, processing rooms, and vehicle storage at a unified location, streamlining chain-of-custody workflow and investigative efficiency.

The upgrades will feature high-density evidence vaults, secure intake bays, and long-term storage racks designed to handle an immense volume of criminal evidence, contraband, and property securely. Dedicated, contamination-controlled spaces for processing physical evidence, including specialized rooms for ballistics, latent print analysis, and biological/digital evidence examination are also part of the upgrade. Specialized HVAC systems designed for chemical safety and air filtration in labs, and continuous power solutions, will also be included.

The layout also includes a secured, dedicated vehicle impound lot spanning the adjacent Albany Ave space, engineered with perimeter fencing, specialized surface paving, and the capacity to hold over 150 vehicles for processing and storage.

By utilizing an existing structure, the city is delivering a specialized facility engineered to protect the integrity of criminal investigations with the most modern law enforcement standards, while saving taxpayer dollars.

With preliminary estimates on the project in the $30 million to $40 million range, the Tampa City Council voted unanimously in April 2026 to pass a resolution authorizing a construction contract with Kokolakis Contracting, bringing the total project cost to approximately $27 million.

The approved project has been financed through non-ad valorem bond proceeds via the city's capital improvement program, alongside phased allocations and reimbursements. The project also has a direct investment in the local economy, with 28% of the contracting and buildout work committed to certified local firms.

Participating firms include:

• Local participating firms include:
• Architects Design Group
• AJ Plumbing, Inc.
• Harmonics Electronics
• Howard Associates Architects
• JonesEdmunds
• MB Drywall Solutions
• Pye Barker Fire & Safety
• Taimen Madison Lawn Care
• Vertical Earth