With craftsmanship at its core, Tate Ornamental continues to build a legacy
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in White House, Tennessee, Tate Ornamental has been a trusted leader in custom metal fabrication for over three decades. After graduating from the University of Alabama, founder and President Joey Tate, along with his father Harold and partner Charlie James, launched the company with a focus on ornamental metals. By 1993, Tate Ornamental had expanded into architectural millwork, and in 2003, its facility grew again to include granite, quartz, and porcelain fabrication. Today, the company continues to evolve, combining craftsmanship, innovation, and state-of-the-art technology to deliver exceptional results across industries.
With roots in brass, bronze, stainless steel, and aluminum fabrication, Tate Ornamental made its name in commercial construction by working on malls, specifically crafting a unique range of spiral staircases and decorative canopies. In a region known for its metalworking capabilities, Joey made sure Tate Ornamental stood out. He took on the most complex designs and executed them with precision. As Joey himself details: “We needed to separate ourselves from the competition, and the best way to do that was to take on the jobs no one else even wanted to attempt. The first job sold was an ornate bronze rail in Washington DC, where none of the local fabricators were up to the task. That project was rejected several times by the architect, and we were told it would not be accepted until we got it right. Thus, we worked hard to get it right. I give that architect credit for helping us evolve into the quality fabricator we are today.
“We’ve maintained that ethos ever since. My team is always up for a challenge, and it has allowed us to take the business further than we ever expected. We now work with a range of materials, fabricating cabinets, wall panels, and even our own trim.
“I’ve always loved custom fabrication projects. In millwork, people tend to want an all-in-one package, so we broadened our offerings to let clients mix and match the services that work best for them.
“We began fabricating our own granite, quartz, and porcelain countertops. It was a huge success. We also grew our stair and railing operation, offering metal and stone millwork together to create unique hybrid products.
“Continuing to evolve has allowed us to remain a turnkey operation. We fabricate most of the products our clients need in-house and even offer our own shipping service, making us the only fabrication partner they require. We work closely with our clients and take pride in building long-lasting relationships.”
Impressive project portfolio
In the 37 years since its founding, the company has contributed to some remarkable milestone builds. From Epic Universe at Universal Studios to Vanderbilt University’s FirstBank Stadium, Tate Ornamental’s work can be found across Tennessee and beyond. Looking back, Joey highlights some of his most notable accomplishments: “We’ve been blessed to take on many incredible jobs. Some standouts include the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., the African American Museum in Baltimore, Md, the Holocaust Museum in Washington, DC and The Fisher Center at Belmont.
“More recently, we worked on the National Air and Space Museum renovation, which wrapped up earlier this summer, The Eisenhower Memorial, Cannon House Office Building in Washington DC, and Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. These large-scale commissions bring visibility and serve as milestones of our success, but we take pride in everything we produce. Each one is unique – and that’s what keeps the work so rewarding.”
Investing in expansion 
Having expanded substantially over the past five years, Tate Ornamental has announced a major addition to its headquarters in White House, Tennessee. The new head office marks an exciting new chapter for the company, as Joey explains: “Our growth has been accelerating since 2020, and we’ve needed additional room for some time. Much of that momentum comes from our millwork division, which has had the knock-on effect of nearly doubling our stone and quartz output. We could easily use twice the area for millwork – and that’s exactly what’s now under construction.
“The new plant will span 114,000 square feet and is purpose-built for milling. Our current space is 72,000 square feet and we often find ourselves at capacity, which can lead to operational challenges. Once our millwork operation has transitioned to its new location, we’ll move the stone division into the existing unit.
“Right now, our stone fabrication division operates from a unit that is too small to meet rising demand. The expansion will ease those constraints and benefit every part of the operation, paving the way for continued growth.”
Joey reflects that an expansion of the ornamental division in 2021 has already seen tremendous results and the goal is to replicate that success across all areas of the company. He also reveals that the business is investing in new equipment to streamline workflows and increase efficiency.
With these new investments underway and a new facility set to open its doors in March of 2027, Tate Ornamental looks forward to an exciting next chapter. Turning to the future, Joey shares his thoughts on what’s to come: “We’re hoping to grow the business another 25 percent over the next five years. We have reliable partners across the industry and plan to collaborate with them on larger projects in the coming years.
“Further ahead, I’m focused on introducing more automated tools to help the company grow in line with industry demands. We’ve always been a technology-forward business, and adopting these tools will ensure we stay one step ahead,” he concludes.