Designers take light, airy approach to courthouse.

Byline: Rebecca Nolan The Register-Guard

Eugene's new $70 million federal courthouse will be the first U.S. courthouse built in the 21st century, and its designers want the building to last.

They've incorporated enough growing room into the courtrooms' clean lines and curved walls to guarantee the building's relevance for generations to come.

And, consistent with the exterior design unveiled last May, the interior melds cutting edge technology and style with reminders of the natural world.

Bands of Oregon hardwood - likely cherry with walnut detail - encircle upper walls of the courtroom. Windows on three sides pull in natural light and keep those inside apprised of the weather.

Underfoot, a raised floor conceals the mass of wiring required to run the lights, computers, sound and recording systems essential to courtroom operations.

A number of modifications make the room easily accessible for people of all abilities.

The jury box is tucked away in a cozy nook at the side of the room. From there, jurors seated in sleek black chairs have a clear view of the entire courtroom. The area is wired with video monitors so jurors can easily see computer-generated or recorded evidence now becoming more prevalent into today's trials.

Inspired by movie theater seating, the design forsakes the center aisle that traditionally divides the public's benches and instead has two side aisles. Visitors will be able to watch monitors stationed around the gallery.

And, according to U.S. District Judge Michael Hogan, who has spearheaded the courthouse project for the past 12 years, the design incorporates a sense of openness lacking in traditional courtroom layouts.

"Many courtrooms are, frankly, somber, scary places almost," Hogan said. "I wanted a serious room that still is embracing."

Local media got a sneak peek Friday at the interior design that will be used in the new building's six courtrooms during a tour of a 2,400-square-foot plywood prototype of a courtroom.

Constructed inside a soundstage at Chambers Communications in north Eugene, the $150,000 "mock courtroom" has allowed designers to test furniture configurations, paint colors and other design ideas. Over the past five months, courtroom users have toured the room and given their opinions on its functionality and design.

The public will not have an opportunity to see the mock-up before it is torn down and recycled.

The federal government uses such mock-ups only on federal courthouse projects, which are particularly complex, expensive and intended to last for generations, project manager Richard Broderick said.

Minor adjustments to the height of a door or the location of the jury box can cost hundreds of thousands after construction is completed, said Jon Kvistad, Northwest regional administrator for the federal General Services Administration.

"This is our opportunity to study key aspects of the courthouse to make sure it functions properly without making change orders which can be expensive," he said.

The overall courthouse design combines both the traditional style of Hogan and the more futuristic approach of the primary designer, Thom Mayne of Morphosis Architects of Santa Monica, Calif. The judge and the designer have worked closely for the past two years to create a building both functional and elegant.

"In the past, we've taken a square or rectangular room and decorated it with furniture to create a courtroom," Hogan said. "This time I said to the architect, `Here are the ideas that make a great courtroom. Here's what needs to happen. Now you go to work and bring your stardust to it.' '

So far, their collaboration has been successful.

The courthouse design has drawn international attention, Hogan said. Already it has won a national design award for government buildings, and the designers were invited to exhibit a model at the 2003 Biennale, an exposition of architecture and art in Venice, Italy. It is the first American courthouse design to receive such an invitation, Hogan said. Another model is on display at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

Each of the three pavilions of the building - symbolic representations of Oregon's beloved Three Sisters - will house two courtrooms.

The largest courtroom, at 3,000 square feet, will be reserved for high-profile trials and large ceremonies. Three other 1,800-square-foot courtrooms will be used for bankruptcy and similar matters, and two the size of the mock-up will serve as district and magistrate courtrooms.

"We wanted to bring something special to the community," Kvistad said. "This is the first federal courthouse of the 21st century, not only in its design, but in its function. We wanted to really set cutting edge standards."

The mock courtroom will likely stand for another month or so, to allow for some last-minute tinkering, Kvistad said.

Kvistad expects to break ground in September at the 4.5-acre site at East Eighth Avenue and Mill Street, former home of the old Agripac cannery. The 278,400-square-foot building will house the six courtrooms, chambers for six judges as well as congressional offices, space for federal prosecutors, court clerks, and U.S. marshal, probation and pretrial services.

CAPTION(S):

A scale mock-up highlights the design elements of a courtroom for the new federal courthouse in Eugene. Groundbreaking is set for September. Court: Design draws international attention Continued from Page A1