BOWLING GREEN — In 100 years, someone will open the time capsule locked in a wall of the new Bureau of Criminal Investigation laboratory, look at the DNA swab kit, and probably shake their head at how elementary it looks.

The DNA kit was put into the capsule Monday afternoon by Tom Stickrath, Ohio's superintendent of the BCI, during the grand opening of the facility on Bowling Green State University's campus.

The state-of-the-art forensics laboratory will be the new work space for state investigators who test ballistics, gather criminal intelligence, and analyze trace evidence to help law-enforcement agencies in their investigations.

“What really excites me is what this building stands for,” Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said.

Mr. DeWine challenged the center to advance forensics, which Mr. Stickrath said he and the investigators were up to doing.

The 30,000-square foot, $11.9 million facility is at North College Drive and Leroy Avenue. During the roughly 16-month construction process 50,000 manhours were logged, said Kimberly Murnieks, the chief operating officer in the attorney general’s office. She said 85 percent of the construction workers on the project were from northwest Ohio.

The Bowling Green lab, which serves 22 northwest Ohio counties, is one of three in Ohio. The BCI also has labs in Richfield and London. The former Bowling Green lab was inside a converted grocery store in a strip mall.

— Taylor Dungjen

First Published November 11, 2014, 5:00 a.m.