Patterson Technology Center Wins ALA Presidential Award

The Patterson Companies, Inc. Patterson Technology Center (PTC) in Effingham has won the Don Erickson Presidential Award in the Association of Licensed Architects (ALA) 14th Annual Design Award Competition. The PTC is the premier technology development and call center support facility in the markets served by the Company’s Patterson Dental, Patterson Medical and Patterson Veterinary business units. DLR Group designed the building, which opened in September 2011. The PTC, which also received the Silver Award in the Commercial category, is featured on the cover of the Licensed Architect Winter issue, located here.

A panel of highly regarded architects examined 90 entries to determine winners in eight categories, based on program solution, site and space planning, overall design solution and construction system and details. The Don Erickson Presidential Award – the top award given to one project – is selected from the 32 winners of Merit, Silver, and Gold design awards in 2012.

“We are very excited that the Patterson Technology Center was selected for this ‘best-across-all-categories’ award,” said Pam Hemmen, Patterson vice president, technology services. “This upgraded facility was built to enhance the service and support we provide to our customers and truly reflects our position as a technology leader and innovator in the dental, medical and animal health markets.” Hemmen noted that meeting the highest green building standards, as well as operational efficiencies when occupied, were also priorities. The project will be LEED certified, and is currently tracking Silver certification. “The final result is a facility that meets all of our objectives beautifully,” she said.

Design highlights of the three-level facility include a 30-foot-wide picture window at the main entrance that showcases the newest medical, dental and veterinary equipment. The PTC, which contains seven departments, also functions as a training and demonstration center. Highly trained technical support, software development and implementation experts are among more than 325 employees onsite.

The judges commended the PTC’s “classic plan and open spaces, exterior planes and window systems.” ALA President Jeffrey Budgell, FALA added, “This project is sustainably designed and successfully blends the building into the site, cleverly downplaying its nearly 100,000 square feet. Utilities and conference rooms are located at the center of the interior plan and daylight from perimeter windows penetrates deep into the building’s open floor plan. Additionally, the earth-tone pattern of exterior colors helps integrate the building with the native prairie plantings and the natural birch forest.”