The Inspiration and Challenges Behind the RK Group New Headquarters

April 13, 2021

The RK Group Headquarters

Project Features, Challenges, and Inspiration

Project Narrative by Joeris General Contractors

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

In Spring 2020, The RK Group moved into their new 155,000 SF home located on San Antonio’s eastside. Located a stone’s throw from the Red Berry Mansion, which served as RK Group’s illustrious new venue, the new headquarters houses 300 employees and offers clients a full-service planning solution.

The various RK Group brands housed here include:

  • Rosemary’s Catering
  • Circa DM
  • Illusions Event Rentals & Design
  • Burr
  • Flair Floral
  • Human Resources
  • Accounting 
  • Linen
  • Warehouse
  • RKEMS
  • Mobile Kitchens
  • The RKD Design Studio
  • Print Lab

Building Materials & Construction

The 50,000 SF office space and 100,000 SF warehouse space were constructed using a hybrid pre-engineered metal building with structural steel. Traditional stud frame construction with concrete board-form panels that dress up the building entrance and RK-color branded metal panels accent the exterior portion of the warehouse.

The interior of the building includes various types of finishes suited for the type of area. All wet areas, specifically in the kitchen, dishwasher, and ice carver’s rooms, had urethane flooring installed. The showroom features ceramic tile, office spaces feature carpet, and the executive suites feature sinker-cypress wood. Additional finishes include granite countertops, gold faucets, and Yo-Yo light fixtures. Extensive millwork features in the building’s interior include wood paneling, ceilings, and sliding barn doors. 

The numerous spaces found throughout the headquarters include:

  • Corporate offices
  • Conference rooms
  • Showroom
  • Commercial kitchen
  • Ice sculpting room with a view
  • Salon
  • Med Clinic for employees
  • Training room
  • Warehouse space with laundry, event prop storage, wardrobe and walk-in freezers
  • Employee gym and locker rooms
  • Marketing print shop
  • Floral
  • Wood Shop

Project Challenges

Permitting

Receiving a building permit from the city of San Antonio (CoSA) to begin construction was a challenge the project team faced early on in the project. The location of the new RK Group headquarters is located near an apartment complex and city property. Approval of the permit hinged on the new facility’s proximity encroaching upon the property lines for both the apartment complex and city property. The project team’s resolution to this challenge was to phase the permitting, beginning with site development, then the foundation, and finally, the building permit. 

Coordination

Coordination with multiple vendors and other contractors was necessary throughout construction. The city was developing the property where RK Group’s headquarters was to be constructed when construction broke ground. The Joeris project team worked hand-in-hand with the city’s general contractor to coordinate the utility tie-ins and construction of the TXDOT right-of-way approaches providing access to the property. Construction of the facility began ten feet from where the city’s contractor was putting in de-acceleration lanes and lane approaches to the building. 

Additionally, site personnel were heavily involved in coordinating the delivery and installation of owner-selected vendors, including the data and security contractor and supplier of the kitchen equipment and large walk-in freezers, Mission Restaurant Supply. The Joeris project team provided oversight and ensured each of the vendors were provided with the most up-to-date construction documents reflecting the correct electrical requirements and rough-ins for all pieces of equipment and were aware of the project schedule, communicating when their perspective activity would start. 

Looking forward to the next 70 years

The RK Group has called San Antonio home for the past 70 years and will continue to grow, with good taste, from their new, expansive headquarters on the city’s east side.

With multiple departments housed together and exclusive use of the Red Berry Estate, The RK Group will bring economic development by also serving the local community through their values of dedication, integrity and commitment.

The Red Berry Estate – Historic Venue Restored

Did you know the Historic Red Berry Mansion sits across the lake from the RK Group Headquarters? And guess what? We built that, too!