Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse
Encyclopedia
The Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse is a federal courthouse
located in Eugene
, Oregon
. Completed in 2006, it serves the District of Oregon
as part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit
. The courthouse is named in honor of former U.S. Senator Wayne Morse
who represented Oregon for 24 years in the Senate and was a Eugene area resident. Located in downtown Eugene, the building overlooks the Willamette River
.
Standing six stories tall, the 266742 ft2 building contains six courtrooms as well offices for the courts and other federal agencies such as the United States Marshals Service
. The courthouse also has offices for Oregon's two U.S. Senators and for the U.S. Representative in the district. Designed by architect Thom Mayne
, the building has won several design awards and earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) Gold certification for energy efficiency. The courthouse was the first new federal courthouse to earn a Gold certification.
(GSA) held a competition to design a new courthouse for Eugene. Architect Thom Mayne
of the Morphosis firm won the design competition, though at the time the location for the new courthouse was hypothetical. The new building was replacing the old Eugene Federal Building on High Street and Sixth Avenue in downtown, which did not have room for expansion and did not meet newer security requirements. Design of the new building began in 2001 for the 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) site. The project was included in the Design in Excellence program, GSA's project that seeks to increase the quality of architecture in federal government projects. The design of the structure received an award from the GSA in 2002.
On April 7, 2004, federal officials held a groundbreaking ceremony
at the site for what was estimated to be a $70 million project. The site on East Eighth Avenue and Ferry Street formerly housed an Agripac cannery and is situated along the Willamette River
. Local developers and officials hoped the courthouse and a potential new hospital in that area of town would spur further development and revitalize the area. In July 2004, construction began with site preparation including digging out a hole for underground parking. At that time the project was expected to be completed in August 2006.
Plans called for a four-story structure covered with zinc
panels on the exterior with a total of 267000 ft2, including a three story tall atrium
. Plans for zinc on the exterior were later changed to stainless steel due to costs. Designed by Mayne and the DLR Group
, the building was to be built using concrete and steel with a goal of earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) certification for sustainability, with large amounts of natural lighting designed to help secure that distinction. On the outside many security measures were incorporated into the design. The building was to include six courtrooms, administrative offices, and space for the offices of the U.S. Marshals Service. Despite security concerns as a federal building, the architect and judge Michael Robert Hogan
sought to have an open feel to the structure. Hogan, the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
, was the primary government official tasked with working with the architect to design the courthouse.
J. E. Dunn Construction Group served as the general contractor on the project, with the DLR Group
serving as the architect of record and as the electrical engineering firm. KPFF Consulting Engineers did the structural engineer work and GLUMAC International completed the plumbing and mechanical engineering.
On July 11, 2005, the 69 feet (21 m) tall building was topped out
and the last steel beam put into place. Construction on the project ended in August 2006 with completion in November. During construction crews removed 73000 square yards (61,037.3 m²) of material during excavation at the site, poured 15000 square yards (12,541.9 m²) of concrete with 1640 short tons (1,487,783 kg) of rebar
, used 1100 short tons (997,903.2 kg) of structural steel
, and on the exterior 48000 ft2 of windows and 125 short tons (113,398.1 kg) of stainless steel were used. On December 1, 2006, the $78.8 million Wayne Lyman Morse U.S. Courthouse was dedicated and officially opened. The total cost to complete the project was $96 million. The Morse Courthouse was completed on budget and on time, but due to budget cuts, elements including a rooftop reflecting pool
and etching of the Bill of Rights
onto the exterior were removed from the project. When it opened it became the first new federal courthouse in the United States to earn a Gold LEED certification.
, similar in style to the United States Supreme Court building
, while architect Mayne pushed for a modern glass and steel structure. Though opposed at first to each other's design thoughts, the two worked together to incorporate elements of each person's ideas. After years of working on the design process, including 25 revisions, the two compromised on elements with Hogan responsible for pushing for a set of steps leading to the main floor on the second level as well as the feel of the courtrooms. While Mayne had a reputation as an architect of confrontation and dislocation, this was one of three GSA Design in Excellence programs he had worked on with the artistically conservative federal government. Regarding them, he said: “Obviously, those are buildings that require negotiation. I couldn’t be too bad.”
The completed design resulted in a curving structure standing five stories tall with 266742 ft2 of space. The bottom two floors are covered in glass and house offices, while the top three floors are covered in ribbons of steel and primarily house courtrooms. Three pavilions rise from the main structure to create these upper floors where the six courtrooms are located. Each of the top three floors have two courtrooms; two for the judges of federal district court, two for magistrate judges of the court, and two for the bankruptcy court, with these courtrooms spread out amongst the pavilions; two per pavilion and all on the third floor. Chambers
for the judges are located above the courtrooms and include a seventh chamber for a visiting judge. On the same level as the judge's chambers are two law libraries
for the court. The three floors featuring the courtrooms are joined to the rest of the building via the 85 feet (25.9 m) tall atrium. Located on the second floor is the jury assembly room, which when not in use by the court is used as exhibit and meeting space.
The courtrooms vary from as large as 3000 ft2 to as small as 1500 ft2 and are in a pear shaped design. Designs for the courtrooms were partly based on the courtrooms of the Bordeaux Law Courts in France. The jury box
is recessed and does not resemble a traditional jury box. The courtrooms feature ribbons of wood panels on the walls in rooms that narrow as they reach the bench
at the front. The wood is primarily cherry with walnut accents. Natural light is let into the courtrooms from small opening in the walls. Videoconferencing is available in the courtrooms.
In addition to the natural light from the atrium and skylights, the building is further illuminated inside by lightbox
es and screens that are part of the artwork. Other interior details include steel mesh, a courtyard at the center, panels of stainless steel, pillars with burnished steel, and a parts of the United States Constitution
on the wall. Also, the areas leading into the elevators have clear panels in the floor, and the main staircase is also constructed partly of transparent materials, with the steps made of gray slate. The exterior ribbons of stainless steel also extend into the lobby of the building.
The exterior features a large set of stairs that leads from the street level to the main entrance on the second floor. This 240 feet (73.2 m) wide grand entrance also serves a security function of reducing the chance of a car bomb
reaching the main entrance. Other security measures in the design include the underground parking and setting the courtrooms back from the street. The facility was designed as a Security Level IV facility
by the government. Other exterior features include structural elements left exposed along with portions of the curved metal skin that extend out from the building. Mayne, the building’s architect, stated that it was “the language of the ribbon” to describe the exterior design.
was commissioned to create much of the building's artwork. One piece is a metal sculpture located on the exterior in the courtyard that mimics the nearby Willamette River
's watershed, and includes metal spheres attached to the line shaped metal. The other main piece of art is a piece with two lightboxes on the interior that display different images as one moves along the display that uses lenticular glass. Images represent themes of the river and of legal history.
Energy efficient and sustainability features designed into the project led to a Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Elements that led to this include landscaping that reduces runoff from rainwater, lots of natural light, a more efficient HVAC
system that is located under the floors, and a location near public transit
. Landscaping includes using drought resistant native species to reduce the need for irrigation. The floor-based HVAC system is more energy efficient and helps keep the temperature of the entire building more even and uses radiant heating
and cooling. Additionally, the construction used environmentally friendly sealant
s, carpets, paints, and adhesives as well as preventing 90% of the construction waste from entering landfills. Also, potable water usage is reduced by 40% due to the use of low-flow sinks, showers, and toilets. The contractor also recycled 90% of the materials from the building that previously occupied the site.
In addition to the LEED certification, the building also won a Progressive Architecture Award
in 2004 from Architecture
magazine and AIA/COTE award from Architect magazine in 2007. The Chicago Athenaeum also gave the design an award in 2007 as part of its American Architecture Awards. The Morse Courthouse was also the first U.S. courthouse included at the Venice Biennale of Architecture
. The Oregonian
newspaper called the courthouse “the most architecturally important new building in Oregon in decades”.
’s office, the U.S. Marshals Service
, pretrial services, and probation. Additionally, there are offices for both of Oregon’s United States Senators and an office for a single member of the United States House of Representatives
. Representative Peter DeFazio
of Oregon's 4th congressional district
uses that office.
Courthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
located in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. Completed in 2006, it serves the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
as part of the Ninth Judicial Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is a U.S. federal court with appellate jurisdiction over the district courts in the following districts:* District of Alaska* District of Arizona...
. The courthouse is named in honor of former U.S. Senator Wayne Morse
Wayne Morse
Wayne Lyman Morse was a politician and attorney from Oregon, United States, known for his proclivity for opposing his parties' leadership, and specifically for his opposition to the Vietnam War on constitutional grounds....
who represented Oregon for 24 years in the Senate and was a Eugene area resident. Located in downtown Eugene, the building overlooks the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
.
Standing six stories tall, the 266742 ft2 building contains six courtrooms as well offices for the courts and other federal agencies such as the United States Marshals Service
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
. The courthouse also has offices for Oregon's two U.S. Senators and for the U.S. Representative in the district. Designed by architect Thom Mayne
Thom Mayne
Thom Mayne is a Los Angeles-based architect. Educated at University of Southern California and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1978, Mayne helped found the Southern California Institute of Architecture in 1972, where he is a trustee...
, the building has won several design awards and earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) Gold certification for energy efficiency. The courthouse was the first new federal courthouse to earn a Gold certification.
History
In 1999, the General Services AdministrationGeneral Services Administration
The General Services Administration is an independent agency of the United States government, established in 1949 to help manage and support the basic functioning of federal agencies. The GSA supplies products and communications for U.S...
(GSA) held a competition to design a new courthouse for Eugene. Architect Thom Mayne
Thom Mayne
Thom Mayne is a Los Angeles-based architect. Educated at University of Southern California and the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in 1978, Mayne helped found the Southern California Institute of Architecture in 1972, where he is a trustee...
of the Morphosis firm won the design competition, though at the time the location for the new courthouse was hypothetical. The new building was replacing the old Eugene Federal Building on High Street and Sixth Avenue in downtown, which did not have room for expansion and did not meet newer security requirements. Design of the new building began in 2001 for the 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) site. The project was included in the Design in Excellence program, GSA's project that seeks to increase the quality of architecture in federal government projects. The design of the structure received an award from the GSA in 2002.
On April 7, 2004, federal officials held a groundbreaking ceremony
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking, also known as cutting, sod-cutting, turning the first sod or a sod-turning ceremony, is a traditional ceremony in many cultures that celebrates the first day of construction for a building or other project. Such ceremonies are often attended by dignitaries such as politicians and...
at the site for what was estimated to be a $70 million project. The site on East Eighth Avenue and Ferry Street formerly housed an Agripac cannery and is situated along the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
. Local developers and officials hoped the courthouse and a potential new hospital in that area of town would spur further development and revitalize the area. In July 2004, construction began with site preparation including digging out a hole for underground parking. At that time the project was expected to be completed in August 2006.
Plans called for a four-story structure covered with zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
panels on the exterior with a total of 267000 ft2, including a three story tall atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
. Plans for zinc on the exterior were later changed to stainless steel due to costs. Designed by Mayne and the DLR Group
DLR Group
DLR Group is an architectural design firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design to clients throughout the United States...
, the building was to be built using concrete and steel with a goal of earning Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design consists of a suite of rating systems for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings, homes and neighborhoods....
(LEED) certification for sustainability, with large amounts of natural lighting designed to help secure that distinction. On the outside many security measures were incorporated into the design. The building was to include six courtrooms, administrative offices, and space for the offices of the U.S. Marshals Service. Despite security concerns as a federal building, the architect and judge Michael Robert Hogan
Michael Robert Hogan
Michael Robert Hogan is a judge with the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. He served as Chief Judge from 1995 to 2002. He is based at the Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon. While he was chief judge, he was an influential force on the design of the new...
sought to have an open feel to the structure. Hogan, the chief judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
, was the primary government official tasked with working with the architect to design the courthouse.
J. E. Dunn Construction Group served as the general contractor on the project, with the DLR Group
DLR Group
DLR Group is an architectural design firm providing architecture, engineering, planning, and interior design to clients throughout the United States...
serving as the architect of record and as the electrical engineering firm. KPFF Consulting Engineers did the structural engineer work and GLUMAC International completed the plumbing and mechanical engineering.
On July 11, 2005, the 69 feet (21 m) tall building was topped out
Topping out
In building construction, topping out is a ceremony held when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. The term may also refer to the overall completion of the building's structure, or an intermediate point, such as when the roof is dried in...
and the last steel beam put into place. Construction on the project ended in August 2006 with completion in November. During construction crews removed 73000 square yards (61,037.3 m²) of material during excavation at the site, poured 15000 square yards (12,541.9 m²) of concrete with 1640 short tons (1,487,783 kg) of rebar
Rebar
A rebar , also known as reinforcing steel, reinforcement steel, rerod, or a deformed bar, is a common steel bar, and is commonly used as a tensioning device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures holding the concrete in compression...
, used 1100 short tons (997,903.2 kg) of structural steel
Structural steel
Structural steel is steel construction material, a profile, formed with a specific shape or cross section and certain standards of chemical composition and mechanical properties...
, and on the exterior 48000 ft2 of windows and 125 short tons (113,398.1 kg) of stainless steel were used. On December 1, 2006, the $78.8 million Wayne Lyman Morse U.S. Courthouse was dedicated and officially opened. The total cost to complete the project was $96 million. The Morse Courthouse was completed on budget and on time, but due to budget cuts, elements including a rooftop reflecting pool
Reflecting pool
A reflecting pool or reflection pool is a water feature found in gardens, parks, and at memorial sites. It usually consists of a shallow pool of water, undisturbed by fountain jets, for a calm reflective...
and etching of the Bill of Rights
Bill of rights
A bill of rights is a list of the most important rights of the citizens of a country. The purpose of these bills is to protect those rights against infringement. The term "bill of rights" originates from England, where it referred to the Bill of Rights 1689. Bills of rights may be entrenched or...
onto the exterior were removed from the project. When it opened it became the first new federal courthouse in the United States to earn a Gold LEED certification.
Design
The finished building reflected two major influences: Judge Hogan had wanted a more traditional courthouseCourthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
, similar in style to the United States Supreme Court building
United States Supreme Court building
The Supreme Court Building is the seat of the Supreme Court of the United States. It is situated in Washington, D.C. at 1 First Street, NE, on the block immediately east of the United States Capitol. The building is under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. On May 4, 1987, the Supreme...
, while architect Mayne pushed for a modern glass and steel structure. Though opposed at first to each other's design thoughts, the two worked together to incorporate elements of each person's ideas. After years of working on the design process, including 25 revisions, the two compromised on elements with Hogan responsible for pushing for a set of steps leading to the main floor on the second level as well as the feel of the courtrooms. While Mayne had a reputation as an architect of confrontation and dislocation, this was one of three GSA Design in Excellence programs he had worked on with the artistically conservative federal government. Regarding them, he said: “Obviously, those are buildings that require negotiation. I couldn’t be too bad.”
The completed design resulted in a curving structure standing five stories tall with 266742 ft2 of space. The bottom two floors are covered in glass and house offices, while the top three floors are covered in ribbons of steel and primarily house courtrooms. Three pavilions rise from the main structure to create these upper floors where the six courtrooms are located. Each of the top three floors have two courtrooms; two for the judges of federal district court, two for magistrate judges of the court, and two for the bankruptcy court, with these courtrooms spread out amongst the pavilions; two per pavilion and all on the third floor. Chambers
Chambers (law)
A judge's chambers, often just called his or her chambers, is the office of a judge.Chambers may also refer to the type of courtroom where motions related to matter of procedure are heard.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :...
for the judges are located above the courtrooms and include a seventh chamber for a visiting judge. On the same level as the judge's chambers are two law libraries
Law library
A law library is a library designed to assist law students, attorneys, judges, and their law clerks and anyone else who finds it necessary to correctly determine the state of the law....
for the court. The three floors featuring the courtrooms are joined to the rest of the building via the 85 feet (25.9 m) tall atrium. Located on the second floor is the jury assembly room, which when not in use by the court is used as exhibit and meeting space.
The courtrooms vary from as large as 3000 ft2 to as small as 1500 ft2 and are in a pear shaped design. Designs for the courtrooms were partly based on the courtrooms of the Bordeaux Law Courts in France. The jury box
Jury
A jury is a sworn body of people convened to render an impartial verdict officially submitted to them by a court, or to set a penalty or judgment. Modern juries tend to be found in courts to ascertain the guilt, or lack thereof, in a crime. In Anglophone jurisdictions, the verdict may be guilty,...
is recessed and does not resemble a traditional jury box. The courtrooms feature ribbons of wood panels on the walls in rooms that narrow as they reach the bench
Bench (law)
Bench in legal contexts means simply the location in a courtroom where a judge sits. The historical roots of that meaning come from the fact that judges formerly sat on long seats or benches when presiding over a court...
at the front. The wood is primarily cherry with walnut accents. Natural light is let into the courtrooms from small opening in the walls. Videoconferencing is available in the courtrooms.
In addition to the natural light from the atrium and skylights, the building is further illuminated inside by lightbox
Lightbox
Lightbox may refer to:* Various backlit viewing devices:** A container with several lightbulbs and a pane of frosted glass on the top. It is used by photography professionals viewing translucent films, such as slides. This device was originally used to sort photographic plates with ease. It is also...
es and screens that are part of the artwork. Other interior details include steel mesh, a courtyard at the center, panels of stainless steel, pillars with burnished steel, and a parts of the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
on the wall. Also, the areas leading into the elevators have clear panels in the floor, and the main staircase is also constructed partly of transparent materials, with the steps made of gray slate. The exterior ribbons of stainless steel also extend into the lobby of the building.
The exterior features a large set of stairs that leads from the street level to the main entrance on the second floor. This 240 feet (73.2 m) wide grand entrance also serves a security function of reducing the chance of a car bomb
Car bomb
A car bomb, or truck bomb also known as a Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Device , is an improvised explosive device placed in a car or other vehicle and then detonated. It is commonly used as a weapon of assassination, terrorism, or guerrilla warfare, to kill the occupants of the vehicle,...
reaching the main entrance. Other security measures in the design include the underground parking and setting the courtrooms back from the street. The facility was designed as a Security Level IV facility
United States federal building security
United States federal building security refers to the security of federal government installations in the United States. A variety of measures are undertaken to make the buildings safer, while preserving an "open" architecture consistent with democratic governance...
by the government. Other exterior features include structural elements left exposed along with portions of the curved metal skin that extend out from the building. Mayne, the building’s architect, stated that it was “the language of the ribbon” to describe the exterior design.
Artwork, LEED, and awards
Artist Matthew RitchieMatthew Ritchie
Ritchie attended the Camberwell School of Art 1983-86. He describes himself as "classically trained" but also points to a minimalist influence.Ritchie's art revolves around a personal mythology drawn from creation myths, particle physics, thermodynamics, and games of chance, among other...
was commissioned to create much of the building's artwork. One piece is a metal sculpture located on the exterior in the courtyard that mimics the nearby Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
's watershed, and includes metal spheres attached to the line shaped metal. The other main piece of art is a piece with two lightboxes on the interior that display different images as one moves along the display that uses lenticular glass. Images represent themes of the river and of legal history.
Energy efficient and sustainability features designed into the project led to a Gold LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Elements that led to this include landscaping that reduces runoff from rainwater, lots of natural light, a more efficient HVAC
HVAC
HVAC refers to technology of indoor or automotive environmental comfort. HVAC system design is a major subdiscipline of mechanical engineering, based on the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer...
system that is located under the floors, and a location near public transit
Lane Transit District
The Lane Transit District is a public agency that provides public transportation in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The transit district serves the Eugene metropolitan area, including the neighboring cities of Springfield, Junction City, Creswell, Cottage Grove, Veneta, and Lowell...
. Landscaping includes using drought resistant native species to reduce the need for irrigation. The floor-based HVAC system is more energy efficient and helps keep the temperature of the entire building more even and uses radiant heating
Thermal radiation
Thermal radiation is electromagnetic radiation generated by the thermal motion of charged particles in matter. All matter with a temperature greater than absolute zero emits thermal radiation....
and cooling. Additionally, the construction used environmentally friendly sealant
Sealant
A sealant may be viscous material that has little or no flow characteristics and stay where they are applied or thin and runny so as to allow it to penetrate the substrate by means of capillary reaction...
s, carpets, paints, and adhesives as well as preventing 90% of the construction waste from entering landfills. Also, potable water usage is reduced by 40% due to the use of low-flow sinks, showers, and toilets. The contractor also recycled 90% of the materials from the building that previously occupied the site.
In addition to the LEED certification, the building also won a Progressive Architecture Award
Progressive architecture award
The Progressive Architecture Awards annually recognise risk-taking practitioners and promote progress itself in the field of architecture. The editors of Progressive Architecture magazine hosted the first Progressive Architecture Award jury in 1954. In 1996, the magazine folded and the venue was...
in 2004 from Architecture
Architecture (magazine)
Originally titled Journal of the American Institute of Architects from January 1944 through 1951, the magazine changed its name to The American Institute of Architects Journal. After publication of the AIA Journal ended in August 1976, then followed Architecture magazine...
magazine and AIA/COTE award from Architect magazine in 2007. The Chicago Athenaeum also gave the design an award in 2007 as part of its American Architecture Awards. The Morse Courthouse was also the first U.S. courthouse included at the Venice Biennale of Architecture
Venice Biennale of architecture
Mostra di Architettura di Venezia, the Architecture section of the Venice Biennale, was established in 1980, although architecture had been a part of the art biennale since 1968....
. The Oregonian
The Oregonian
The Oregonian is the major daily newspaper in Portland, Oregon, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 1850...
newspaper called the courthouse “the most architecturally important new building in Oregon in decades”.
Tenants
The bottom two floors of the facility house offices, including those for the federal courts, the United States AttorneyUnited States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
’s office, the U.S. Marshals Service
United States Marshals Service
The United States Marshals Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency within the United States Department of Justice . The office of U.S. Marshal is the oldest federal law enforcement office in the United States; it was created by the Judiciary Act of 1789...
, pretrial services, and probation. Additionally, there are offices for both of Oregon’s United States Senators and an office for a single member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Representative Peter DeFazio
Peter DeFazio
Peter Anthony DeFazio is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1987. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Eugene, Springfield, Roseburg and part of Corvallis. As Oregon's most senior member of Congress, he is the dean of Oregon's House of Representatives delegation...
of Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district
Oregon's 4th congressional district represents the southern half of Oregon's coastal counties, including Coos, Curry, Douglas, Lane, and Linn counties and most of Benton and Josephine counties...
uses that office.