A Craft that Lasts Forever
METAL FABRICATION WITH META DESIGNS
“Working with this material is both a privilege and a challenge.
Its sheer weight and rigidity make it tough to maneuver, demanding precision,
creativity, and a bit of an adventurous spirit to bring out its full potential.”–Ryan Lewis, Founder & CEO, Meta Designs
No matter the style, houses are built with a combination of materials like wood, concrete, and stone. These materials Require upkeep, maintenance, and often, replacement. But there is one material that’s both structural and Decorative, and it lasts forever when crafted with care. The team at Meta Designs are experts when it comes to fabricating And installing metal works that last a lifetime.
Most builders are mathematicians in addition to being carpenters, which is evident in the old adage: Measure twice, cut once. And when the material in question is metal, add chemistry to that equation. Meta Designs has mastered the combined sciences of welding and building, and they have a practiced eye for quality and design. “Our team is comprised of skilled welders who have the eye of finish carpenters,” says Ryan Lewis, founder and CEO of Meta Designs. “Working with this material is both a privilege and a challenge. Its sheer weight and rigidity make it tough to maneuver, demanding precision, creativity, and a bit of an adventurous spirit to bring out its full potential.”
“Creative expertise is central to most of Meta’s projects. Only around 25% of our clients bring a fully developed idea, while the other 75% look to us for unique and inspiring designs, problem solving, and creative freedom. This challenge is what makes the craft truly engaging,” Lewis says.
Lewis has three full-time designers who work exclusively with clients, and these designers forge lasting relationships. “A majority of our projects are for repeat clients,” says Lewis. “Architects, interior designers, and developers make up the majority of our clientele, but we always make time for direct homeowner projects too.”
MATERIALS THAT MORPH
One thing that sets metal fabrication apart from other trades is the unlimited nature of possibilities. With most furniture or textile design, there’s a showroom or a catalog. “We don’t have a catalog because every item we make is custom. From the smallest table to the largest set of showcase stairs, everything is completely one of a kind,” says Lewis.
“We don’t have a catalog because every item we make is custom. From the smallest table to the largest set of showcase stairs, everything is completely one of a kind.”
–Ryan Lewis, Meta Designs
Perusing Meta Designs’ portfolio reveals the versatile nature of metal itself. Different techniques applied to the same material can achieve a smooth, rough, reflective, or distressed finish. It can be manipulated to appear in motion or still, brand new or antique. And the team’s knowledge of different results from an applied force shows in their impressive portfolio. “Steel is inherently strong and can achieve apparent weightlessness midair. Brass, in contrast, has a soft exterior and lends itself to immediate distressing, rendering a beautiful patina and an instantaneous aged look,” describes Lewis. “We also fabricate and install kinetic architectural elements walls, windows, and roofs that move with the push of a button or the turn of a hand wheel.”
ONE STEP AT A TIME
Much like their signature showcase staircases, Meta Designs has grown one step at a time. Today’s team of over 20 designers, project managers, fabricators, and installers started as a one man show in a 400-square-foot garage. Meta Designs now enjoys a state-of-the-art 12,000-square-foot facility. Scaling up to this level was intentionally slow and thoughtful as year after year profits were reinvested in the business. Lewis and his team recently reorganized and introduced a cutting edge software solution, ensuring that everyone is on the same page. “Project management is seamless with our new digital tools. Details auto populate at our integrated workstations so that the whole team has the same understanding of each project,” shares Lewis.
This mindful evolution is the brainchild of Lewis and his wife, Heidi, who handles all the bookkeeping, account management, and operational organization. “Heidi keeps us running, no exaggeration there,” says Lewis. “Twenty years ago, I never imagined that I would have such a solid team. Our growth has happened at a comfortable pace with dedicated and talented people strengthening the operation. I wore so many hats at the beginning, and my team has allowed me to do less juggling because everyone is capable and committed,” he says.
“Project management is seamless with our new digital tools. Details auto-populate at our integrated
workstations so that the whole team has the same understanding of each project.”–Ryan Lewis, Meta Designs
EXPANDING INTO THE COMMUNITY & THE FUTURE
Lewis and his team have made a concerted effort to participate in community events, and the work is having a positive impact in the adaptive recreation community and beyond. What Lewis describes as a “side gig” has taken on a life of its own in the form of Wasatch Ski Chairs. Their unique talents prove to be a perfect fit for refurbishing chair lifts and gondolas with resale proceeds that benefit like-minded nonprofits.
Though the two pursuits of luxury home fabrication and chairlift refurbishing might seem worlds apart, Lewis sees it another way. “The demographics of the Meta Designs team reflects the make-up of our community at large. We’re half locals and half transplants, and we’re united by a love of the place where we live and play. The same thing that makes the Salt Lake and Park City communities leaders in pushing the boundaries of architecture and design is seen in our recreational lifestyles. We’re all interested in pushing the boundaries of what is possible,” says Lewis.
“The demo-graphics of the Meta Designs team reflects the make-up of our community at large.”
–Ryan Lewis, Meta Designs
Twenty years ago, Lewis envisioned the potential of Meta Designs. And his dream for twenty years into the future is just as clear. “We are committed to the quality and importance of our craft,” he says. “As our world becomes more and more digital, it is essential that we continue to utilize tangible, high-quality materials. There is unlimited value in getting our hands dirty to craft things that last.”
“We’re half locals and half transplants, and we’re united by a love of the place where we live and play. The same thing that makes the Salt Lake and Park City communities leaders in pushing the boundaries of architecture and design is seen in our recreational lifestyles. We’re all interested in pushing the boundaries of what is possible.”
–Ryan Lewis, Meta Designs
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