A Lasting Legacy
Marcy Marro,
Posted
10/01/2009
When
Donald "Pat" Patterson died in July 2008 from cancer, he was the
president and CEO of SteelMaster Buildings in Virginia Beach,
Va. His love of his family and community led him to serve
in leadership roles for organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay
Foundation, Norfolk State University, Virginia Aquarium &
Marine Science Center, the Scooner Project and the Neptune
Festival.
On the first anniversary of his death, the Virginia Aquarium,
located in Virginia Beach,opened a new reptile, amphibian and bird
housing building. Because of an increase of animals with the
Aquarium's new Restless Planet exhibit, more space was needed for
housing. Patterson and SteelMaster donated a S-Model prefabricated
corrugated arched-style steel building for the project. A custom
model, the building is 29 feet (9 m) wide by 40 feet (12 m)long by
approximately 16 feet (5 m) high, and is made up of 80-grade,
22-gauge EnergyStar rated Galvalume Plus coated steel.
The interior is
insulated with blanket insulation from Therm-All, Lancaster, Pa.,
to ensure the interior temperature remains between80 and 85 F (27
to 29 C) for the safety of the animals. The building was
constructed using SteelMaster's Industrial Base Connector, a
14-gauge foundation plate that connects to the concrete slab and
allows the building to be disassembled and moved if
necessary.
"[Patterson] saw a need in the steel building industry for a
company that was fully committed to his core values of integrity,
ethics and responsibility to customers," said Michelle Wickum,
SteelMaster's marketing director. "He recognized those same values
in the work being doneat the Virginia Aquarium and he wanted to
help them further their mission any way he could."
According to Dorcas Browing, president of the Virginia Aquarium
& Marine Science Center Foundation, Patterson's legacy is still
very much alive among those working with the foundation and
throughout the aquarium. Patterson had held the same position years
ago when he was also the foundation's capital campaign
chairman.
"The foundation benefited from his discipline,energy and passion
for our conservation through education mission," Browning said.
"[Patterson's] legacy to the Virginia Aquariumis more than just a
building, exhibit or funding. He embodies the spirit of dedication
to a A Lasting Legacy By Marcy Marro cause and pride in community
treasures like the aquarium. He is an inspiration to us all and we
were fortunate to have shared his life."
Reptile,
Amphibian and Bird Housing Building at Virginia Aquarium &
Marine Science Center, Virginia Beach, Va.
General contractor: Nelin Brothers Inc., Virginia
Beach
Design and engineering firm: MSA P.C., Virginia
Beach
Mechanical and electrical engineering: Pace
Collaborative, Virginia Beach
Metal building: SteelMaster Buildings, Virginia
Beach
Insulation: Therm-All, Lancaster, Pa.
www.steelmasterusa.com; www.therm-all.com