An overflow crowd gathered to break ground for the new Wayne L. Morse Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon in April. Thom Mayne of the Los Angeles firm Morphosis, was lead designer on the curvilinear courthouse, which has been called "a dynamic sculptural presence," and one of the most significant buildings to be constructed in Oregon in a long time.

Jurors in the 51st Progressive Architecture design competition obviously agreed. They awarded the courthouse design one of 11 citations in a national competition for unbuilt work that attracted over 360 entries. The jury said the project created "an alternate identity for the courthouse," an approach that "could help ameliorate the public's fear or remoteness from the judicial system, as it formalizes a unique notion of how people exist in relation to the courts." According to Architecture Magazine, which sponsors the awards, "One juror even commented that the courtrooms look so well designed that he would 'want to break the law just so I could sit there.'"

Judge Michael Hogan, with Mayne, probably was most instrumental in working out what the Eugene courthouse would become. He said that the new courthouse embodies "a spirit of unity and hopefulness for the community."

According to Hogan, the Eugene, Oregon, courthouse also was the first American courthouse to be included in the Venice Biennale. The design was on display during the 8th International Architecture Exhibition in 2003, one of 150 projects by 90 architects in the main Venice, Italy, exhibition.