Company History

Rentenbach Engineering Company was established in Knoxville in 1946 by Mr. T. J. Rentenbach. Mr. Rentenbach founded the company after supervising much of the war-time construction of the City of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as well as the majority of the manufacturing facilities that housed the “Manhattan Project” for the United States Army Corps of Engineers. His goal in establishing Rentenbach as a company, which provided both engineering and construction services, was to blend the integrity of the professional engineer with the talent of the skilled craftsman.

Mr. Rentenbach stressed excellence in the work bearing his name, and possessed a strong commitment to building business relationships founded on both competent execution and professional integrity.

Mr. Mike Rentenbach continued his father’s philosophy of building with professional integrity while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship. Following nine years as Vice President and Regional Manager of the Greensboro, North Carolina regional office, Mike Rentenbach served as President, CEO and Chairman of the Board of the company from 1982 until 2005.

Mr. Don Freeman, a professional engineer who came to Rentenbach in 1972, assumed the positions of President and CEO on July 1, 2005 with Mike Rentenbach remaining in the position of Chairman of the Board.

Rentenbach Constructors currently enjoys the benefit of significant longevity among senior management employees. The Board of Directors consists of five senior employees of the firm, averaging over twenty-five years of employment with Rentenbach.

• In response to our many clients’ needs, a full-service regional office was established in Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1971 to serve North and South Carolina and Virginia. 
• In 2008, a regional office was established in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Rentenbach Constructors Incorporated is one of the South's largest privately held contracting firms. Engineering News-Record has ranked us among “America’s Top 400 Contractors” for more than 25 years. Four times, Rentenbach has been awarded the prestigious “Build America” award by the Associated General Contractors of America:

• 1977 – TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority) Towers, Knoxville, Tennessee 
• 1982 – World’s Fair Site, Knoxville, Tennessee 
• 2000 – Holly Inn, Historic Renovation, Pinehurst, North Carolina 
• 2006 – Rams Head Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 

Rentenbach Constructors Incorporated is a widely diversified contractor that annually completes numerous industrial, office, medical, retail, and institutional projects. Our projects range in value from several thousand dollars to more than $100 million dollars, and geographically encompass more than 23 states from Florida to Michigan and North Carolina to Texas. We provide a full range of construction services, including general contracting, design/build, and both “At-Risk” and “As Agent” construction management. During the past 10 years, Rentenbach has constructed facilities totaling more than 25 million square feet.

Since our founding in 1946, Rentenbach has developed a substantial base of national and international clients. Our satisfied customers offer the greatest testimony to the quality and integrity of our work - more than 75% of our work is performed for repeat clients.