Rinderknecht Construction to expand its 29th Avenue SW site

CEDAR RAPIDS — Rinderknecht Construction, one of the oldest construction companies in Cedar Rapids, is expanding with an additional 1,417 square feet and a complete remodel to its office space, at 1000 29th Ave. SW.

As part of the change, it also moved its warehouse to a separate building in the yard.

“We’ve added (the) space for growth, positioning ourselves well for the future,” Rinderknecht President and CEO Scott Friauf said.

“Our company has been around since the mid-1880s, but few people know what an impact we’ve had on the community. We’ve built all the buildings on the Mount Mercy University campus with the exception of the original convent. We built Coe College’s Murray Hall, Toyota Financial, City Hall on the island and the original police station (now the Linn County Sheriff's Office). And we’ve been an almost constant presence in Mercy Medical Center since the1960s.”

Begun by German cabinetmakers Theodore and Robert Stark, the brothers worked on the Paramount Theatre and St. Paul’s Methodist Church, among other structures.

Richard Rinderknecht was brought into the company in 1933, purchasing the remaining Stark brothers’ interest in 1941 and renaming it R.W. Rinderknecht Co.

The company reorganized again in 1971 as Rinderknecht Associates. By 2002, the company was an entirely employee owned.

Rinderknecht will hold an open house 4 to 7 p.m., March 24.