Specialty metal project not going as planned? We’re here to help.
Dissimilar is trusted by builders and architects to step in when your specialty natural metal fabricator needs to get replaced. We solve complex issues and deliver when other specialty fab teams can’t.
DMD Editor | Dissimilar Metal Design
Article Posted August 6, 2025
Designers know us for our beautiful patinas on natural metals. What many don’t know is that Dissimilar has been a quiet partner on dozens of projects.
If your specialty metal project isn’t going well, we’re here to make things right.
When we step in to course correct, a lot of the time it has to do with the patinas. Sometimes it’s where they struggle with the fabrication, but it’s often an intersection of metalwork and metal patina, and getting that patina right is a task that most companies struggle with.
We’ve become known as a midstream fixer for these types of projects.
While this reputation wasn’t our original intention, among a handful of our colleagues, installers, production partners and architects — that’s what it’s become.
And if that’s where you’re at, let’s talk. We’ll step in and dig into the details. We’ll get your project back on track.
“We hired another company to do natural metal fabrication, and the reality is, they can’t.”
When you find yourself saying these words, Dissimilar is here to step in. The science and art of patina is something that we’ve mastered and few others can come close to the quality that our team brings.
Making the difficult decisions
Over the course of Dissimilar’s 35+ years in business, we’ve seen a lot of unique situations. We’ve been called to step in on projects big and small. These aren’t easy decisions to make.
Many of these are even high-profile cultural and civic projects where timelines were tight and design issues emerged late.
Actually, we’re in the middle of one right now. We’re currently working on a project where we were brought in to address gaps in detailing, fabrication of complex geometries, and finish development. A significant portion of the budget and timeline had already been spent by another team that wasn’t able to complete the contract. These are the types of situations that Dissimilar often gets called in to mitigate.
Our metal fabrications are amongst the best in the world, but there are probably half a dozen companies in the US that can fabricate the way we do. But there aren’t a lot of companies that can get the patina right, and that’s where we have become a critical partner.
When Barclays Center needed our help
Over a decade ago, we were called in to help rescue one of the most high-profile metalwork projects in the country: Barclays Center. The original weathering steel vendor had run into serious trouble—financially, technically, and contractually. The issues were so severe the bond company had to step in, which almost never happens.
When it came time to find someone who could take over and actually deliver, they turned to Dissimilar. Not because we were next in line, but because we had a track record for pulling off complex architectural metalwork under pressure.
What sealed the deal was our recent high-profile work in Seoul with Jean Nouvel. We reworked critical details, managed the complexity, and delivered the architectural metalwork. Read the full story of how Dissimilar stepped in to keep Barclays Center on track.
We support all types of situations and teams:
- General contractors needing to replace or supplement metalwork
- Developers/owners seeking a partner to recover schedule and spec
- Architects revising design direction midstream
- Engineers resolving constructability or performance issues
- Installers or subs looking for buildable solutions after delays
- Fabricators needing support for overflow work
- Design teams navigating late-stage revisions or aesthetic misalignment
“Dissimilar relishes in the opportunity to help see meaningful architecture projects across the finish line.”
Supporting early, mid, and late-stage projects.
We meet your project where it’s at. Whether you’re bringing us on mid-contract, through a change order, or bond-led reassignment, we can handle the intricacies.
We refine connection details, fabricate new components to tighter tolerances, or coordinate with field crews to verify sequencing and fit. We are hands-on from shop to site.
We start by assessing the current conditions. Look at what’s been fabricated, what’s been installed, and where the disconnects are. From there, we help realign the scope without starting over, integrating into the team to resolve outstanding details, rework finishes, and develop buildable solutions that meet the design intent.
In short, we get into the details—and take them to the finish line:
- Design & detailing consultation: Assess what’s been done, what’s missing, and how to move forward, collaborating with your team to realign the scope without starting over.
- Patina and finish correction: Whether the material arrived off-spec or performed differently in the field, we evaluate solutions to recover the intended aesthetic, through rework, match, or controlled replacement.
- Custom fabrication to fit evolving needs: Our team fabricates high-performance architectural elements in weathered steel, copper, brass, and aluminum with rigorous attention to site tolerances and sequencing.
- Engineering and connection refinement: We develop engineered details and custom brackets to make installations viable, even when original details are missing or unbuildable.
- Field coordination with your team: We liaise directly with your GC, superintendent, or installer to ensure the work fits—technically, visually, and practically.
We often win projects or get awarded later due to our ability to responsively, collaboratively, and technically coordinate with customers, and meet your schedule. We hear it all the time. Our team delivers the best experience in coordination of drawings and models they’ve ever achieved. As building envelopes grow more complex, that level of coordination has become one of the defining attributes of what we do.
Have more questions? Read the FAQs
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Scope shifted? Finish off-spec? Original team falling short?
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Contractor Change FAQs
Can we bring you in mid-contract on a construction project that is already underway?
Yes—we’re frequently brought in mid-project through a change order, direct subcontract, or bond-led reassignment. We’re used to integrating into existing project teams and getting up to speed fast.
Is Dissimilar licensed and insured for architectural metal fabrication?
Yes. We carry full insurance and maintain all required licenses for fabrication and field coordination. We’re ready to supply COIs, safety documentation, and anything your GC or project manager needs.
Can you provide engineered shop drawings and stamped details for installation?
Yes. We collaborate with licensed engineers to deliver stamped drawings and fully detailed connection designs, especially when the original fabrication details are incomplete or unbuildable.
How fast can you quote or clarify scope on a custom metal fabrication project?
We can usually turn around a proposal or scope clarification within a few business days. If you’re under a tight deadline, let us know—we prioritize urgent requests and will move quickly to help.
Does Dissimilar work as a subcontractor or a direct vendor for construction projects?
We do both. We can contract directly with general contractors, developers, or other fabricators—whatever best fits the structure of your project.
Will you work with our existing fabrication team?
Yes. We’re here to collaborate—not necessarily replace. We regularly coordinate with architects, GCs, installers, and original fabricators to find solutions and move the project forward.
Can you match an existing patina or finish?
In most cases, yes. We have deep experience in controlled oxidation, field-matching, and custom finishing across copper, brass, steel, and aluminum. We’ll evaluate your sample and offer a realistic solution.
What if we’re already behind schedule?
That’s often when we’re brought in. We’re used to working under pressure and within compressed timelines—without compromising the quality of the finish.
Do you only take on rescue projects?
Of course not. While we’ve built a reputation for saving late-stage projects, we also work from the ground up when clients want to get it right the first time. We just happen to be especially good when things get tough.