County, Cetronia Ambulance Partner; New Building To Rise In Township

The Lehigh County commissioners approved a lease deal on Wednesday night that paves the way for a new headquarters for  and a new Lehigh County Coroner's office in South Whitehall.

Here are five things to know about the project:

1. Shared space: Cetronia Ambulance and Lehigh County will share space in the proposed 63,000-square-foot building to be built on 9 acres of county-owned land at Broadway and Parkway Road.

Cetronia Ambulance will have the bulk of the space, with educational facilities, but the county coroner's office will be relocated there from downtown Allentown and forensic medical facilities will be there as well. The county also will use some garage space to house its emergency management equipment, now scattered in various locations.

"There's a value in sharing resources," Cetronia's Chief Executive Officer Larry Wiersch said.

2. Potential cost: $10.5 million. Cetronia will spend $7.5 million to construct the building, although Wiersch is hoping costs come in lower. The building is in final design stage now.

Lehigh County will spend about $3 million to outfit the forensic medical center. It will lease the land for the building to Cetronia Ambulance for $1 a year.

Cetronia Ambulance received a $1.75 million redevelopment from the state to help with construction costs. A capital campaign continues, and naming opportunities are available, Wiersch said. Those interested in contributing can call 610-530-5513.

3. The building team: Spillman Farmer Architects of Bethlehem, Keystone Engineers of Allentown and of South Whitehall.

4. The land itself: Now primarily open space. However, which is located in a section of the land, must move to a new nearby location to make way for the building, said Glenn Solt, the county's director of general services.

Solt said Cetronia Ambulance also will rough out as many as three new soccer fields for the county, which would eventually grade them.

5. The timetable: Cetronia Ambulance must go through state and local permitting and zoning channels, Wiersch and Solt said. However, officials hope to begin construction by late spring or early summer of next year. Wiersch said Cetronia Ambulance will seek community input on the proposed building at town hall meetings.

The Cetronia Ambulance building on Broadway, across from the C., will be sold to help pay down construction costs, Wiersch said.