BRIEFLY.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Courthouse design given architectural award

The Wayne Lyman Morse U.S. Courthouse in Eugene received one of 12 awards of merit presented this month by the American Institute of Architects, California Council, in partnership with energy performance experts at Savings by Design.

More than 370 entrants were judged for excellence in architecture and energy-saving design, according to a news release from the council. The award went to the building's designers, Morphosis of Santa Monica, Calif.

Judges in the California competition said the courthouse challenges the "business as usual" design of courthouses in generic office towers and demonstrates how government projects can advance the frontier of design.

The building already has garnered international attention. The project architect, Thom Mayne, was recognized in 2005 with the Pritzker prize, the profession's most prestigious honor. The California group earlier this month awarded Mayne its Maybeck Award for outstanding achievement.

Woman attacked near convenience store

SPRINGFIELD - Police are looking for a man who allegedly tried to sexually assault a woman about 9:30 a.m. Thursday outside the Dari Mart store on Gateway Street.

Police said the woman was leaving the store at 3185 Gateway St. when she was grabbed by a man and pulled toward the back of the building. The man pulled at the woman's clothing, and the woman fought back. The man then fled to the east, through a nearby apartment complex.

Police said the man had been lingering outside the store prior to the attack. They describe him as being in his mid-teens to early 20s with a medium to thin build, about 5-foot-7, with a dark complexion and short, black hair.

Anyone with information should call Springfield police at 726-3714.

REGION

Smoke alarm works

to alert family to fire

VENETA - A smoke alarm alerted a family of four to a fire in their mobile home early Friday, and everyone escaped unharmed.

The family was sleeping when a fire broke out in their home at 18114 Highway 126.

The alarm woke the parents about 3:50 a.m.

They in turn woke their two children and all four escaped through a back door.

They called for help from a relative's home across the street.

When crews from Lane County Fire District 1 arrived about 15 minutes later, the home was fully engulfed in flames.

The house was a total loss, officials said.

Two engines and four water tenders responded, with 16 volunteer firefighters.

They were at the scene until 8:30 a.m. mopping up.