Who We Are
Since opening our doors in Atlanta in 1948, we have been locally owned and operated, helping shape our cities' skylines and delivering high-quality, energy-efficient solutions. Self-performance of all trades, in-house shops and over seven decades of experience have made us the top choice in mechanical contractors, providing highly efficient mechanical systems and a full range of services to meet our customers’ unique needs. For our employees, our customers and our communities, we are:
BUILDING A HIGHER STANDARD.
OUR
MISSION
OUR
MISSION
“To be the best mechanical service provider to work for as an employee and to work with as a customer.”
A Company Built on Values
Since 1948, our proven approach has ensured high-quality solutions at every stage of a building. But we know that providing the highest level of services takes the right people and a healthy environment. With this in mind, our focus is to improve the lives of our customers, employees and communities around us through all aspects of what we do.
Safety
Safety comes first. Our highest priority is the health and well-being of our employees and customers. We are committed to doing everything in our power to send each teammate home injury-free at the end of each day.
Integrity
We conduct ourselves with honesty, transparency, and respect towards our employees and customers.
Accountability
We accept responsibility for our performance by following through on our commitments, delivering quality work, and striving to improve.
Collaboration
We foster a culture of open communication, inclusiveness, and teamwork with our employees and customers. We will focus on solutions for overall project success, not just our own.
Customer Satisfaction
We strive to deliver the highest level of service possible with the unwavering goal of complete customer satisfaction.
People Development
We invest in our people through teaching, training, mentoring, and providing opportunities to reach their career goals. We believe in servant leadership and growing our company’s leaders of tomorrow.
Our History
1940s
In 1943, John M. McKenney opened shop just south of Atlanta to recap tires for the Army during World War II. As the war came to an end, the newly named McKenney’s Tire and Appliance Company began selling household appliances, including floor furnaces, to Atlanta-area residents. The company adjusted to the booming post-war economy by shifting from residential needs to light industrial and commercial work. On June 4, 1948, the company officially became McKenney’s, Inc.
1950s
By 1952, McKenney’s began taking on larger-scale projects, including multi-story commercial and residential work. John M. McKenney also began working with pipe fitter and sheet metal worker unions, building a skilled, reliable in-house workforce. Notable projects during this period included the Darlington Apartments in Atlanta and Charleston, Atlanta’s Howell House Apartments, and the Alabama Livestock Coliseum in Montgomery.
1960s
In 1960, the company added plumbing to its list of services and began to partner with local general contractors. To accommodate the expanding business, McKenney’s moved to a new facility in East Point, Georgia. The new building housed the first automatic coil line for fabrication of duct in the Southeast, as well as space for plumbing and pipe fabrication.
1970s
In 1972, McKenney’s moved to its current location just off Moreland Industrial Boulevard in the heart of Atlanta. This marked the company’s transition to second-generation ownership and management, as John M. McKenney’s son David joined the company. McKenney’s also established its service and energy management departments to accommodate a growing customer base and their changing needs. Notable projects included the Omni Arena and Ice Rink, the Coastal States Building, the Peachtree Center Cain Tower, and Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport.
1980s
As metro Atlanta grew, so did McKenney’s. The company formed new departments, focusing on interiors and special projects, design/build, and healthcare and research. The sheet metal shop nearly doubled in size, and a new material handling facility was added. McKenney’s also opened an office in Charlotte, North Carolina, to serve its customers expanding to this location. Notable projects included the 50-story IBM Atlantic Center tower in Atlanta, the Atlanta Apparel Mart and Gift Mart, Underground Atlanta, 191 Peachtree, One Peachtree Center and NationsBank Plaza.
1990s
A growing customer base led McKenney’s to open a third office in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to better serve the entire Southeast. The company also focused on specific markets for pharmaceuticals, bioengineering and medical laboratories, fiber optics manufacturing, the food and beverage industry, and other high-tech applications. David McKenney’s son John joined McKenney’s, beginning the company’s transition from second- to third-generation management, which is still in place today. Notable projects included the modernization of Grady Memorial Hospital, Concourse E at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the new Atlanta Hawks Arena and the Olympic Broadcast Center.
2000s
Sustainable, energy-efficient building practices became increasingly important during the 2000s, especially as the U.S. economy saw a downturn and went into a recession. McKenney’s implemented cutting-edge technologies and green practices during the 2007 renovation and expansion of its corporate campus in Atlanta. In 2009, McKenney’s was named one of Atlanta’s Best Places To Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Notable projects included Georgia Aquarium, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Building 110 and central plant, and Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
2010s
McKenney's continued to invest in their offices, facilities, processes, technologies, and people, while implementing innovative ideas to stay ahead of the curve on intelligent and sustainable building practices. McKenney's was also named one of Atlanta's and Charlotte's Best Places to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and the Charlotte Business Journal several times during this decade. In 2015, McKenney's won the MCAA Safety Excellence Award, which honors successful safety programs and innovative safety initiatives that ensure employees' ongoing health and safety. McKenney's also experienced significant growth during this decade, and in 2016, the company surpassed 2.5 million man-hours worked on various projects. Notable projects included the Fox Theatre, NCR Headquarters, Omni Hotel at The Battery Atlanta, Truist Park, Women's & Children's Center at the Moses Cone Hospital, and multiple high-profile data centers.
2020s
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic impacted every aspect of life. However, McKenney's remains steadfast in its commitment to keeping its workers safe and employed. McKenney's continues to offer industry-leading service when many companies are experiencing downturns, and was able to work on expansions for one of the world's largest data centers. McKenney's implemented rigorous safety initiatives to ensure their employees could keep working and return home in the same condition as they arrived at work. Their significant investments in technology and efficiency have allowed McKenney's to function successfully, despite the challenges created by the pandemic. As the world recovers, McKenney's will continue to shape Atlanta and Charlotte's skylines. Notable projects include the Georgia Aquarium Shark Exhibit, Legacy Union Tower I, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Druid Hill Campus, Deloitte, 712 West Peachtree, and Ally Bank.
