Patterson Technology Center Awarded LEED Green Building Certification

Patterson Companies, Inc. announced that its Patterson Technology Center (PTC) has been awarded LEED® certification at the silver level. The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is a nationally recognized program acknowledging building strategies that meet the highest standards for design, construction, maintenance and operation for healthy and environmentally friendly performance.

The PTC opened in fall 2011 in Effingham. Together with Patterson’s local technical service presence in communities nationwide, the PTC provides technology support infrastructure for customers served by all three Patterson Companies businesses: Patterson Dental, Patterson Veterinary and Patterson Medical. The PTC also serves as the Company’s central technology and software development, testing and employee training facility.

“Achieving this third-party verification of our green building is very important to our customers, our community and our employees,” said Pam Hemmen, Patterson vice president, technology services. “As a company, we wanted to be sure that our commitment to excellence and value for our customers and business partners extended to best practices in how we use energy, water and natural resources in and around our campus.”

According to the USGBC, the PTC achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies in areas that include developing a sustainable site and conserving water, as well as achieving high performance in energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. The number of points earned in the LEED credit categories enabled the PTC to attain the higher silver level certification.

Specific green measures include building materials made of recycled content, occupancy sensors and daylight controls on light fixtures, and low flow plumbing fixtures (saving about 250,000 gallons of water every year). Additionally, fresh air is circulated in the building approximately every 6.5 hours. Exterior features include vegetation growth on the cafeteria roof to reduce heat and improve storm water collection; landscaping with plant material native to the area; a walking path around a pond that filters site storm drainage; and parking areas with charging stations reserved for fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.

“This state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the tools and technology advances that enable us to respond to customers at the highest level of efficiency and expertise,” Hemmen said. “At the same time, we are responding to the challenges to our environment and energy sources by incorporating green standards at virtually every level, from building construction phases to day-to-day operations.”