History & Timeline
Delivering Superior Execution Since 1985
Denark Construction was founded in 1985. Over the next five decades, the company would grow significantly and fulfill well over 1 billion dollars in public, institutional, commercial, and industrial contracts. Those contracts included some of the most challenging and highly visible projects in the Southeast. Throughout its history, Denark has maintained a commitment to its clients,
the community, and its Team Members – which are viewed as the company’s most valuable asset.
Denark has been recognized with countless local and national awards for its work, its safety record, the company’s ethics, and the extraordinary work environment it has created for its Team Members.
1985
1985
1987
R.M. ‘Smitty’ Smith joined Denark as a third owner to enhance the firm’s construction capabilities. The name was changed to Denark-Smith, Inc.
1988
1989
The Engineering portion of Denark-R.M. Smith is sold to Maurice Mallia (now Mallia Engineering Company) & Architecture portion sold to Faris Eid (now Design Innovation Architects)
1992
R.M. “Smitty” Smith retired from Denark-Smith, Inc.
1996
2000
Tennessee Smokies Multi-use Ballpark designed and built by Denark in only 13 months
2000
Denark-Smith, Inc. became Denark Construction, Inc. and celebrated its 15th Anniversary
2002
Knoxville Convention Center completed on time and under budget, which won a Construction Excellence Award for Outstanding General Contractor as well as an MPC Excellence Award
2002
2003
World’s Fair Park Improvements completed, which won the Associated General Contractors (AGC) and Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) Award for Construction Excellence for Outstanding Sitework/Landscape Contractor and the Metropolitan Planning Commission Excellence Award in the Special Use Category
2003
2003
2004
Denark recognized as one of “America’s Safest Companies” by EHS Today magazine
2005
2009
Denark completed MTSU Cummings Residence Hall Renovations, its first CM/GC project with the Tennessee Board of Regents and has since become one of TBR’s most utilized construction managers.
2011
Denark completed Residences at Eastport, which was East Tennessee’s first LEED Platinum project.
2013
2014
Owensboro Convention Center completed, which was honored with the 2015 Top New or Renovated Meeting Site Award by Convention South
2015
2016
2016
Denark begins improvements to Lakeshore Park, one of East Tennessee’s most visited public parks.
2017
2018
2018
2018
Denark completed Hardin Valley Middle School, one of the region’s largest design-build projects
2020
Our Story and History
Over the Years
1985
Founded
Raja Jubran and Maurice Mallia, founded Denark, Inc. (Designers, Engineers, and Architects), a firm focused on the collaborative principles of Design-Build
1985
First Construction Project
Sam’s Party Store & Falafel Hut in the Historic Fort Sanders neighborhood
1987
R.M. ‘Smitty’ Smith joined Denark
R.M. ‘Smitty’ Smith joined Denark as a third owner to enhance the firm’s construction capabilities. The name was changed to Denark-Smith, Inc.
1988
Faris Eid joined Denark-Smith
Faris Eid joined Denark-Smith providing the firm with additional architectural capabilities
1989
Engineering sold to Maurice Mallia
The Engineering portion of Denark-R.M. Smith is sold to Maurice Mallia (now Mallia Engineering Company)
1989
Architecture sold to Faris Eid
Architecture portion sold to Faris Eid (now Design Innovation Architects)
1992
R.M. “Smitty” Smith retired
R.M. “Smitty” Smith retired from Denark-Smith, Inc.
1996
Frank Rothermel purchased 50%
Frank Rothermel purchased 50% of company after more than 20 years’ experience leading his own construction firm.
2000
Tennessee Smokies Multi-use Ballpark designed and built
Tennessee Smokies Multi-use Ballpark designed and built by Denark in only 13 months
2000
Denark-Smith, Inc. became Denark Construction, Inc.
Denark-Smith, Inc. became Denark Construction, Inc. and celebrated its 15th Anniversary (launched new logo & branding, which is our current logo)
2002
Knoxville Convention Center completed
Knoxville Convention Center completed on time and under budget, which won a Construction Excellence Award for Outstanding General Contractor as well as an MPC Excellence Award
2002
Knoxville News-Sentinel completed
Knoxville News-Sentinel Headquarters & Production Facility completed
2002
Denark awarded
Denark awarded the East Tennessee Business Ethics Award
2003
World’s Fair Park Improvements completed
World’s Fair Park Improvements completed
2004
Denark awarded
Denark awarded the AGC Grand National Award for Safety and named one of America’s Safest Companies.
2003
Historic Downtown Post Office & Courthouse Restoration completed
Historic Downtown Post Office & Courthouse Restoration completed
2005
Historic Tennessee Theatre Restoration completed
Historic Tennessee Theatre Restoration completed, which won a Construction Excellence Award for Outstanding Restoration Contractor, a Metropolitan Planning Commission Excellence Award, and an AIA #1 of Top Landmarks of East Tennessee award
2009
MTSU Cummings Residence Hall Renovations completed
Denark completed MTSU Cummings Residence Hall Renovations, its first CM/GC project with the Tennessee Board of Regents and has since become one of TBR’s most utilized construction managers.
2013
Kingsport Aquatic Center completed
Kingsport Aquatic Center completed, which won a 2013 Tennessee Public Works award for Project of the Year
2014
Owensboro Convention Center completed
2014 – Owensboro Convention Center completed, which was honored with the 2015 Top New or Renovated Meeting Site Award by Convention South
2015
30th Anniversary
Denark celebrated its 30th Anniversary (special commemorative logo created)
2016
TCAT-Nissan Training & Education Facility completed
2016 – Denark completed TCAT-Nissan Training & Education Facility, which received a 2017 AIA MidTN Design Awards Honor Award and a 2018 AIA TN Design Awards Merit Award. This facility set the precedent for future TCAT facilities across the state.
2016
Lakeshore Park improvements begin
2016 – Denark begins improvements to Lakeshore Park, one of East Tennessee’s most visited public parks.
2017
Denark awarded
2017 – Denark awarded a Top Workplaces Award by Knoxville News Sentinel and has continued to achieve this recognition every year since its inception
2018
Denark awarded
Denark awarded “America’s Safest Companies” by EHS Today magazine, an honor Denark also received in 2004
2018
Denark awarded
Denark awarded the Governor’s Award of Excellence for Safety, based on number of man-hours without a Lost Workday or Restricted Duty Incident
2018
Hardin Valley Middle School completed
Denark completed Hardin Valley Middle School, one of the region’s largest design-build projects
2020
Denark selected to build Knoxville Multi-Use Stadium
2020 – Denark selected to build the new Knoxville Multi-Use Stadium project in downtown Knoxville, one of the largest projects in the City’s history.
