Case Studies
Government
Wayne L. Morse Federal Courthouse
Eugene, OR
Client: GSA
Architect: DLR Group, Morphosis
Size: 266,742 SF
Completion: 2006
The Wayne L. Morse U.S. Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon is a 266,742 SF steel and concrete structure with brushed stainless steel exterior skin. Its five stories contain a four-story atrium, six courtrooms, judges' chambers, holding cells, U.S. Marshals Service office, bankruptcy courts and other government offices. There is also a secure parking area beneath the building for the judges.
In addition to its distinctive curvilinear shape, the building is notable for being the first federal courthouse to achieve LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The building also incorporates the latest security measures for federal facilities, including force protection, limited progressive collapse, and blast requirements in glazing and skin. Complex IT systems and state-of-the-art courtrooms are an integral part of the project. Each courtroom is served by independent IT/AV systems.
Value Engineering
Initial budgeting flushed out a number of cost overruns and those became the focus of value engineering and constructability. For example, the metal panel exterior cladding was specified zinc. It was discovered that zinc generates "white rust" during handling, resulting in higher overall costs for 58,000 SF of panels. In concert with the A/E, aluminum and stainless steel were investigated as optional materials. Stainless steel was ultimately selected for its appearance, characteristics and cost.
Awards:
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BE magazine - BIM for Architecture: Public Building - 2006
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Building Design & Construction magazine - Grand Prize for Interior Design - 2007
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AIA - Top Ten Green Buildings - 2007
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GSA - Environmental Award for Green Strategies - 2007
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AIA - AIA Building Information Model Award - 2008
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Building Design & Construction magazine - Platinum Building Team Award - 2008
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GSA - Design Excellence Award - 2009
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GSA - Construction Excellence Award - 2009