Oregon State Capital Mall

In 1968 the State of Oregon conducted an architectural competition for the design of a new Supreme Court Building to be located in a prestigious position opposite the State Capitol on the Capitol Mall and was designated as “second only in importance to the State Capitol.” In order to obtain the best possible design, the competition was open to all registered architects in the state. Five of the nation’s foremost architects were engaged to evaluate the entries. We were awarded First Place and Selected Architect. The success of our design was due to the attention given to the contextual demands of the Capitol Mall site and skillfully organizing the complex spatial components of the building. The jury’s decision was unanimous. They cited “the perfection with which it fit into the Capitol mall,” “the buildings inherent vitality,” and “its unusual sense of place and fitness for this particular location.” “Its basic shape was regarded as a unique solution to the difficult problem of relating to the Capitol and other buildings in the area. The ‘L’-shaped plan was the only one of this type submitted and was worked out with unusual skill and integrity.”