Pat Fricchione Awarded SA Walters Lifetime Achievement Award

Building Systems Councils
Published
Pat Award

Patrick (“Pat”) A. Fricchione Jr., General Partner and CEO of Simplex Homes, has been honored with the S.A. Walters Award.

Named after the man who became the first chairman of what is known today as the Building Systems Councils (BSC), the S.A. Walters Award is the highest honor the councils bestow. The award recognizes a lifetime of achievement in systems-built housing.

At Simplex Homes, a leading modular home manufacturer based in Scranton, Penn., Fricchione carries on the legacy established by his father and uncles, the founders of the company. Pat started on the shop floor and over the years has worked in nearly every division of Simplex Homes. His hands-on leadership and commitment to excellence have led to the company’s growth and success.

"We are attracting non-traditional modular customers who see our industry as supplying a superior building method that will take them from planning to revenue generation faster than any other method," Pat stated. "It's very satisfying to have emerged as a leader in this field."

Although Fricchione takes pride in the work his company does, his work goes beyond Simplex. He served as Chairman of the Building Systems Councils at NAHB in 2015 and as President of the Modular Building Systems Association. His leadership roles also include serving as the immediate past Chairman of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, President of the Scranton Half Marathon, a board member of The Women's Resource Center of Northeast PA, and an active member of the Marywood University Board of Trustees.

Pat is also a strong advocate for the trades and has collaborated with Johnson College by donating space for onsite training labs within Simplex's property. This initiative allows the expansion of its program availability, providing students with real-world experience during their education. Pat and his family have also supported Johnson College, offering financial pledges and a family-named scholarship to assist community members in participating in the college's HVAC program.

Not only has Pat made his own mark on the modular home manufacturing industry, he is affording the next generation of home builders the opportunity to do the same.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Advocacy

May 22, 2026

Local Leaders and Builders Unite to Tackle Workforce Gaps in Housing

NAHB’s state and local team earlier this year helped convene mayors, city leaders, planners and builders in Orlando as part of the America’s Housing Comeback discussion series to examine workforce development challenges.

Advocacy

May 21, 2026

NAHB Urges Congress to Advance Housing Supply Reforms

Testifying today before the House Small Business Committee on how small builders can help close the nation’s housing gap, NAHB Chairman Bill Owens said the core issue is a shortage of housing.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

May 21, 2026

Single-Family Starts Fall Amid Economic Uncertainty and Affordability Pressures

Single-family housing starts declined in April as builders faced continued economic uncertainty and affordability challenges, including higher construction costs, ongoing labor shortages and elevated financing expenses. The latest housing starts and permits data suggest that the overall construction pipeline remains uneven across regions and property types.

Economics

May 21, 2026

Housing Affordability Edges Up in First Quarter but Challenges Persist

While housing affordability remains out of reach for millions of Americans, particularly first-time and entry-level buyers, conditions have improved modestly in the last year, according to the latest data from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index (CHI).

Economics

May 20, 2026

What It Takes to Leave Parental Home

As of 2024, one in five adults aged 25-34 lives with parents or in-laws. NAHB’s analysis of the latest American Community Survey (ACS) Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) evaluates a wide range of socioeconomic and demographic factors that shape young adults’ path to independence.