Principal Andrew Smith joined ARCAT’s “Detailed” Podcast to discuss the complexities of the Oregon State Supreme Court Modernization & Seismic Retrofit. The episode explores how the project balanced client goals with seismic resilience, sustainability, and occupant comfort while preserving the building’s historic character through careful retrofitting rather than demolition. It highlights strategies like a triple friction pendulum base isolation system designed for Cascadia‑level earthquakes, LEED certification, and interior craftsmanship and materials sourced from all over the country, including rare marbles. He also discusses details of the ornamental plaster process and the stained-glass laylight. Listen to the podcast episode here or view the extended video interview here.
A forward-thinking approach to preservation and resilience guided the interior modernization and seismic retrofit of the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, which included a base-isolated seismic system, renovation of first-floor office space, restoration of historic interior finishes, and replacement of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. Following its successful rehabilitation, the Oregon Supreme Court Building is one of only two historic buildings in the nation to be both LEED Gold certified and base isolated (and the first in Oregon), providing a safer, more accessible environment for the 60 workers integral to Oregon’s highest courts.
The 1914 Oregon Supreme Court Building is the oldest government building on Salem’s capitol mall, serving as a beacon for Oregon’s government. A premier example of State Architect William Christmas Knighton’s work and his best example of the Beaux Arts style, it is the first documented use of terra cotta in Oregon outside of Portland. The three-story, 50,000-square-foot building features marble and mahogany, abundant classical detailing, a grand staircase, and an historically significant Povey Brothers stained-glass laylight in the courtroom. Through selective demolition, sensitively integrating structural upgrades and MEP replacements to preserve these character-defining features, and successfully nominating this landmark to the National Register of Historic Places, the Oregon Supreme Court is protected for future generations.
