Larry Wiersch, CEO of Cetronia Ambulance Corps, recently led corps personnel and volunteers on an orientation tour of the new 68,000-square-foot building that will house all Cetronia Ambulance functions, as well as Lehigh County Joint Operations, the coroner's office and medical-forensics operations.

Wiersch told tour-takers he expects the ambulance corps portion to be move-in ready by mid-June, with the Lehigh County operations portion following shortly thereafter.

The new center will replace Cetronia's aged operations center on Broadway, across from Cetronia Fire Station, as well as its corporate headquarters in western Lehigh County.

The new facility will house executive and general offices, provide education and training facilities, an around-the-clock communication center, crew quarters, large indoor parking facilities for up to 20 ambulances and a para-transit canopy to accommodate at least 15 para-transit and specialty vehicles.

Additionally, the garage will accommodate the county's hazardous materials and special operations vehicles; county forensics equipment and vehicles; and the coroner's offices and morgue.

The building provides an opportunity to house the ambulance corps operations and county emergency preparedness functions in one area to help facilitate a rapid response for man-made and natural disasters.

The $10-million building was first envisioned as a shared facility in 2009 after recognizing the increased demand for services and the potential unmet needs of Lehigh County and surrounding area residents.

The land was provided by the county on a 99-year lease.

Wiersch said the ambulance corps' $7.6 million portion of the building is not reliant on tax dollars, but rather is being funded solely by community donations, subscription services, grants and funds saved and reserved by the ambulance corps for many years in anticipation of replacing existing buildings.