Coordinated Metals Inc.

Coordinated Metals Inc. (CMI) has been adorning some of New York City’s most luxurious buildings with custom ornamental metal fabrications and installation for more than 40 years. The full-service company offers a one-stop shop for custom exterior façades.
“We design, fabricate and install as one operation,” shares Frank Grippi, president of CMI. “We don’t limit ourselves to just one component. We’re in a small, niche market with only a few competitors. We’re one of the few remaining full fabrication shops in the metropolitan area.”
Big Business in the Big Apple
CMI was founded in 1973 by Howard Isaacs and Lou Mednick. With similar backgrounds in the metal fabrication business, the pair worked to establish CMI as a supporting fabricator for the architectural metal trades. The company slowly began to bid and attain contracts with mainstream contractors in NYC.
In 1985 CMI landed its first, major multi-year contract with Olympia & York for the World Financial Center in Manhattan. Frank joined the company several years later in 1987 after 22 years with a smaller architectural metal firm.
Today, with Frank’s direction, CMI has become a leading provider in the fabrication and installation of custom and standard ornamental metal products with the ability to tackle the most prestigious construction projects in the city. “We also support the architects,” adds Frank. “We take an architect’s conceptual idea and turn it into a fully fabricated product.”
CMI performs all stages of design and fabrication from a 36,000-square-foot plant in Carlstadt, N.J., with two power brake presses for 12-foot and 14-foot capacity with matching shears, welding and polishing equipment. CMI is also an authorized dealer for various national manufacturers such as Kawneer, Vistawall, EFCO, Blumcraft, Dorma/Crane Door and Ellison Door.
The company employs more than 20 qualified union shop mechanics, seven CAD engineers, as well as multiple project managers and union field ironworkers. Additionally, CMI is well represented with other professional trades in the area as a member of the Allied Building Metal Industries Inc., representing the leading metal and glass subcontractors in NYC.
Impressive Exteriors
CMI specializes in building entrances, exterior framing, curtain walls, canopies, railings and all related storefront and door products for a variety of building types. “We work on high-rise apartments, office buildings and retail space; primarily on the lower building façade and entrances,” notes Frank.
The company delivers projects from inception to completion with full support services throughout fabrication, scheduling and final installation. CMI’s capabilities have warranted industrywide respect and trust from some of the city’s leading architectural firms, developers and contractors.
Since its first milestone project at the World Financial Center in 1985, CMI continues to create impressive exteriors for some of the Big Apple’s most-recognized structures. “We recently finished the 250 West 55th Street tower job for Boston Properties,” shares Frank. “We completed the entire lower retail footprint and the monumental exterior lobby entrance and canopy.”
And the team treks on. “We’re currently working on what was known as the Carnegie Tower; it’s now ONE57,” continues Frank. “It’s a 90-plus-story luxury tower and we’re doing all of the custom grade level entrances and window walls.”
CMI has also left its mark on Rockefeller Center, the Trump Tower, Grand Central Terminal, The Hearst Building, The Chrysler Building and the Time Warner Center. The company is currently working on projects at JFK International Airport, Carnegie Hall, the Alexandria Center and numerous other high-profile buildings.
Frank admits the biggest obstacle in CMI’s path is competition from overseas markets. “Some people are buying from China, because it’s cheaper, but what they don’t realize is they’re really sacrificing quality control,” he explains. “It usually results in more mistakes and things end up being remade.”
CMI continues to offer the in-house, full-service advantage with personal, hands-on participation from the principal level of the company. “We’re doing what we know is right,” adds Frank. “That’s providing a high level of product quality and service going into a new cycle of intense construction activity within the local metropolitan market.”
While 2013 marks 40 years in business for CMI, Frank celebrates his 25-year anniversary with the company and 50 years in the metal fabrication industry. In addition to Frank, the company is being guided by his partners Paul Santo, COO, and Scott Eisenberger, CFO.
“We also work on landmark projects,” says Frank. “We’ve done some major visible projects and it’s satisfying to see our work last for many, many years.” According to Frank, Paul and Scott, CMI’s success is based on a total team effort with the support of a talented and loyal staff.
At CMI, it’s about creating a memorable first impression through expertly crafted exteriors,” Frank says proudly. Coordinated Metals Inc. continues to make a lasting impression as one of the few full-service ornamental metal fabrication shops in the New York City area.