Lake Land to Acquire Patterson Technology Center

Lake Land College has been looking at the renovation of the Kluthe Center for Higher Technology, and the construction of the Effingham Regional Career Academy.

Patterson Technology Center has been looking at a reduced workforce at their Effingham building since many employees have been working remotely since the pandemic.

That led to a series of discussions resulting in Wednesday's announcement that Lake Land is acquiring the Patterson facility. The Lake Land College Board of Trustees is expected to finalize the transaction at their meeting next Monday night.

Lake Land trustees and college officials were on hand for the announcement, as were Patterson corporate officials and representatives of the city of Effingham. The purchase price is $15.5 million for the 100,000 square foot facility, to be known as the Effingham Technology Center. That compares to $13 million to renovate Kluthe and to build the Career Academy, which would mean a total of 43,000 square feet.

Lake Land officials approached Patterson representatives about nine months ago with the idea, according to college president Josh Bullock...

Patterson Vice President and General Manager of Dental Software Cecile Schauer said the company likes the idea of Lake Land utilizing the facility, with the opportunity for Patterson to still utilize a portion of the structure. Patterson will lease back 15,000 square feet in the lower level of the facility. Schauer terms it a "win-win" and talked about the implications of the transaction...

Bullock said the college will use bonded funds and building funds to make the acquisition. He termed it a "historic and momentous occasion."