Family-Owned RK Doesn't Shy Away from Massive, Controversial Projects

2017 Top Company Awards – Construction + Engineering Firms

Nora Caley //September 6, 2017//

Family-Owned RK Doesn't Shy Away from Massive, Controversial Projects

2017 Top Company Awards – Construction + Engineering Firms

Nora Caley //September 6, 2017//

With all the cranes in the sky, it's no wonder that construction and engineering firms throughout Colorado are due for some acknowledgement. Before the buildings are beautifully adding to our skylines, there are talented and thoughtful teams putting in the planning, patience and man power to make ideas a reality for our community. 


WINNER

RK

For RK, the key to success has been its ability to prefabricate many building components that used to require on-site construction. Prefabrication isn't new, but RK's diversified companies are able to design, fabricate, manufacture and install nearly any type of mechanical system or custom equipment – even entire buildings – using modular methods. For example, data centers purchase RK's modular data center units for a faster way to add more data capacity in a smaller footprint.

Founded in 1963, RK has evolved into seven divisions: RK Mechanical, RK Service, RK Steel, RK Energy, RK Water, RK Electrical and RK Mission Critical. The divisions work together on projects such as the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Aurora, which was recently renamed Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center. The massive and controversial project began in 2011 and is scheduled to be completed in early 2018. RK Mechanical designed, fabricated and installed all new mechanical systems, including plumbing, piping and HVAC. RK Steel provided miscellaneous metals, including the installation of more than 1,000 linear feet of steel. RK Service managed an eight-month Operations and Maintenance Agreement for the Central Utility Plant.

The second-generation family business employs nearly 1,800 people. Employees who have worked at RK for 20 continuous years receive a Rolex watch as a thank-you gift. The time pieces are given out each June at the RK company picnic. This year, CEO Rick Kinning presented nine watches.


FINALISTS

OAKWOOD HOMES

When faced with a labor shortage, Oakwood Homes, Colorado's largest private builder, recruited other construction industry leaders and launched the Colorado Homebuilding Academy, a construction school for youth and adults. For its current employees, Oakwood Homes offers reward programs geared around fitness, walk Wednesdays, monthly massages and a company chef who prepares nutritious meals. Among its philanthropic efforts is District 11 Day of Beauty 2017, a community beautification project in the Montbello neighborhood. In July, Oakwood Homes, which has delivered more than 15,000 homes to date, was acquired by Clayton Home Building Group, a division of Berkshire Hathaway.


HASELDEN CONSTRUCTION

For four decades, Haselden Construction has provided client-centric general contracting, construction management, design-build, turnkey development and comprehensive pre-construction/virtual design services in Colorado, Wyoming and the Western U.S. Over the past three years, Haselden Construction and its subcontracting partners have raised nearly $200,000 for Homes for our Troops. 

For its 300 employees, Haselden has a committee that plans corporate outings and a "lean-in group" focused on providing support, mentorship and career opportunities for women working in the construction industry. There are also monthly staff meetings with breakfast and a traveling MVP trophy that goes to the team members who exemplifies Haselden's values.