Metropolitan Steel

What Metropolitan Steel does

Metropolitan Steel Inc. is a privately held steel erection subcontractor headquartered in Lansing, Illinois (1931 East 177th Street), founded in 2003 by Tim Caballero following a decade of field experience as an ironworker and a generational family legacy in the trade. The company specializes in four core service lines: structural steel erection for commercial, industrial, and institutional projects; precision metal decking installation for roof and floor systems; bridgework including girders, cross-frames, and complete bridge assemblies; and pre-cast concrete handling and placement. Metropolitan Steel operates a workforce of 1,200+ iron workers supported by a leadership team with 200+ years of combined steel construction experience, executing complex projects such as bridge roll-ins, railroad shutdowns, and high-rise steel erection across the Chicago metropolitan area and broader Midwest (Illinois, Indiana).

The company's revenue model is project-based subcontracting: engagements are won through direct relationships with general contractors (F.H. Paschen, Walsh Construction, Pepper Construction, Lyndon Steel, Ozark Steel) on quote-based contracts scoped to specific project requirements, with no publicly disclosed pricing. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales driven by repeat GC relationships and referrals, supplemented by a project portfolio website. Notable end-clients reached via GC partnerships include Amazon (3.5M sq-ft fulfillment center, 6,500+ tons of steel), CTA (Damen Green Line Station), CoreSite and CyrusOne (data centers), UI Health and Cook County Health (healthcare facilities), and BNSF Railway (Cicero Rail Yard overpass).

The underlying technology is conventional steel erection field execution rather than proprietary platforms or software; the company's differentiators are its skilled trade workforce, safety culture (tie-off compliance, weather planning), pre-planning discipline led by named estimators, and a track record of 950+ successfully completed projects including the award-winning Mile Long Bridge (ACEC National Recognition Award 2022; Roads & Bridges No. 1 Bridge Project in North America 2023). The company is founder-owned with no disclosed institutional investment or parent organization, and operates with a named leadership team spanning President, COO, VP of Operations, VP of Building Estimating, VP of Bridge Estimating, VP of Finance, and field/office support roles.

Name

Metropolitan Steel

Legal name

Metropolitan Steel Inc.

Website

https://metropolitan-steel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metropolitan Steel is a privately held Chicago-area steel erection subcontractor founded in 2003, specializing in structural steel, metal decking, bridgework, and pre-cast concrete installation for general contractors serving commercial, infrastructure, healthcare, data center, and transit projects across the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Steel Erection Services

NAICS

Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (23812), Structural Steel and Precast Concrete Contractors (238120)

SIC

Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440)

akta.pro primary industry

Structural Steel Fabrication (IMADACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bridges, Viaducts & Elevated Guideway Construction (IMAFAFAF), Stations, Platforms & Depot/Yard Construction (IMAFAFAD), Bridge & Infrastructure Steel Components (IMADACAL)

Keywords

• Steel erection services
• Structural steel installation
• Metal decking installation
• Bridge construction
• Precast concrete installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lansing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Steel Erection Services: Project-based steel erection services for commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. Revenue is generated through contracts with general contractors for specific project scopes including structural steel, bridgework, metal decking, and pre-cast concrete installation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Metropolitan Steel is a steel erection subcontractor that erects structural steel, metal decking, pre-cast concrete elements, and bridge components for general contractors. The company delivers full-scale steel erection for commercial, industrial, institutional, and infrastructure projects throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, performing precision installation including girders, cross-frames, decking systems, and complete bridge assemblies.

Product overview

Metropolitan Steel is a steel erection company offering four core services: Metal Decking (precision installation of roof and floor decking systems for high-load structural performance), Bridgework (erection of structural steel bridge components—from girders to cross-frames to complete assemblies), Structural Steel (full-scale steel erection for commercial, industrial, and institutional projects), and Pre-Cast Concrete (expert handling and placement of pre-cast elements). These services operate as a unified portfolio, with the company serving as a trusted steel erection partner for general contractors throughout the Chicago construction landscape on complex projects including data centers, healthcare facilities, transit stations, bridges, and industrial buildings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Structural Steel Erection

Quantifiable outcome

• 950+ successful projects completed
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• F.H. PaschencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey steel erection contractor on 46 projects since 2006, including high-profile and complicated projects. One of F.H. Paschen's most trusted and reliable subcontractors in the last 10 years. Collaboration on major infrastructure including Mile Long Bridge, Webster Avenue Bridge, and NICTD West Lake Corridor Expansion.
• The Walsh Group (Walsh Construction)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration on difficult projects. Metropolitan provides steel erection expertise while Walsh provides project leadership and coordination. Worked together on Project HEAT and I-80 over Midland projects.
• Pepper ConstructionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan an important member of Pepper Construction's team on several jobs. Tim Caballero and field team deliver on production while maintaining safety focus. Pre-planning with Ed Smith helps set realistic paths to manage client expectations.
• Lyndon Steel CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Project HEAT in the Chicago area. Lyndon Steel planned and managed the project while Metropolitan executed steel erection work.
• Ozark Steel, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMetropolitan described as a cornerstone of Ozark Steel's success. Long-standing partnership delivering exceptional quality and reliability on every project undertaken together.
• Shive-HatteryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm for UI Health Outpatient Surgery Center project. Metropolitan executed structural steel framing under this design.
• RS&HminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm that designed the I-490/Illinois Route 390 Interchange project. Metropolitan Steel tackled complex lift and placement operations.
• Jacobs Engineering GroupmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm for NICTD West Lake Corridor Expansion. Metropolitan Steel erected over 15 million pounds of structural steel across a 7-mile corridor supporting five new stations.
• CDOT (Chicago Department of Transportation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for Wentworth Wells Connector project as part of Chicago's 78 development. Metropolitan Steel delivered critical steel erection for bridge components.
• GenslerminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm for Central Campus Health Center project. Metropolitan Steel performed complete structural steel erection.
• CorganminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm for CyrusOne Aurora Expansion data center project. Collaborated with Metropolitan Steel and AG&E structural engineer.
• JT MagenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral contractor for CoreSite CH2 Data Center project. Coordinated execution with architect Corgan and structural engineer AG&E.
• Perkins and WillminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture firm for Damen Green Line Station project. Metropolitan Steel delivered comprehensive structural steel erection for the CTA station.
• BL CompaniesminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering/architecture firm for Amazon Fulfillment Center project. Metropolitan Steel was structural steel erector for the 3.5 million square foot facility.
• Ware MalcombminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitecture/engineering firm for Project HEAT. Metropolitan Steel served as structural steel erector for high-capacity industrial development.
• WSP USAminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm for Webster Avenue Bascule Bridge rehabilitation led by Chicago DOT. Metropolitan Steel completed structural steel erection scope.
• TransSystemsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering firm for I-80 over Midland project. Metropolitan Steel performed precast concrete beam erection coordinated with design engineer.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Hirschfeld Industries: Large national structural steel fabricator and erector with bridge and building capabilities. Represents the scale-up threat: as projects grow larger, Metropolitan may compete with or partner with firms like Hirschfeld for mega-project execution.
• AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction) Member Firms: National network of certified structural steel fabricators and erectors representing the broader competitive set Metropolitan operates within, including larger national players like Hirschfeld Industries and ADF Group.
• Schuff Steel (Dant Clayton): National steel fabrication and erection company serving commercial, industrial, and infrastructure markets — broader geographic and capability footprint than Metropolitan.

Direct peers

• Midwest Steel, Inc. Detroit-based structural steel and precast erector serving general contractors across the Midwest on commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects. Closely comparable service mix (steel erection, decking, precast) and similar regional subcontractor business model.
• Phoenix Steel Erectors: Regional steel erection subcontractor providing structural steel and miscellaneous metals installation on commercial and industrial projects in adjacent Midwest markets.
• Industrial Steel Construction: Midwest industrial and commercial structural steel erector performing bridge, building, and heavy industrial erection — comparable scope and GC-driven GTM.
• Ben Hur Construction Co. Chicago-area union steel erection and rigging contractor serving commercial, institutional, and infrastructure markets. Comparable union-based workforce model and project-based subcontractor positioning in the same metropolitan geography.
• L.R. Willson & Sons: Established Chicago-area masonry and general contracting firm with overlapping structural steel and precast capabilities serving the same GC customer base.
• Area Erectors, Inc. Midwest-based steel erection contractor performing structural steel, metal decking, and precast installation for general contractors. Direct overlap in service lines and target customer base.

Regional players

• Ozark Steel, LLC: St. Louis-based steel supplier and partner of Metropolitan on multiple projects. Comparable regional subcontractor profile with overlapping general contractor relationships, though focused on supply rather than erection.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MetropolitanSteel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metropolitan Steel