About Us | Five Ton Monkey Custom Fabrication Albuquerque

At five ton monkey

We convert ideas into things.

Our ideas, yours, or the ones we develop together. We create things big and small, complex and simple, beautiful and surprising. Things that make spaces, experiences, and ideas come alive.

We make things and solve puzzles. We develop elegant solutions to difficult problems, and figure out how to turn ambitious ideas into physical realities. We think about space and composition, materials and textures, scale and proportion, structure and engineering. We collaborate and iterate. We ask questions.

Five Ton Monkey provides design and fabrication for exhibits, environments, entertainment, public art, and beyond. We work with museums, artists, designers, architects, institutions, and businesses to develop and realize projects that don't necessarily fit into conventional categories.

Some projects come to us as fully developed designs. Others begin with a sketch, a conversation, or a problem that hasn't yet found its solution. We can contribute at any stage, from early concept development and technical planning through fabrication, finishing, and installation. We can crate, fly, deliver, install, and strike.

Our 17,000 square foot Albuquerque facility brings together designers, fabricators, technicians, and craftspeople working across a broad range of materials and processes. We combine traditional craftsmanship with digital fabrication, advanced equipment, and a willingness to experiment. When a project calls for something beyond our own capabilities, we work with trusted specialists to get it done.

We like unusual ideas.

WE ARE WORKING TOWARD

Being a go-to partner for ambitious design and fabrication projects in New Mexico and far beyond.
Seeking out projects that challenge us, teach us something, and give us the opportunity to make something extraordinary.
Earning a reputation for creative problem-solving, being good to work with, standing behind our work, and acting with integrity.
Providing a great working environment for people who make things.
Creating and maintaining the most functional workshop we've ever worked in: safe, organized, well-lit, with the right equipment, the right spaces, and the right mojo.
Getting better every single day at what we do and how we do it.
We’ve come a long way since 2019. But we have more to learn, and more to build.

our team

our extended team

Testimonials

Working with 5 Ton Monkey is a dream. Their team of highly skilled designers, fabricators and finishers are top notch. Our project required museum quality work and they delivered. I highly recommend 5 Ton Monkey for your fabrication needs.

Nan Masland

Director, Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum

Working with Adam and the entire FiveTonMonkey team was an absolute joy. We handed them a very unusual design brief, had some unanswered questions, and came with many cooks in the kitchen (between our architects, GC, and landlord) that they would need to collaborate with. Adam not only worked with everyone to execute an impeccable final product for our space, but he also brainstormed with me on my open questions and helped come up with solutions. He and his team were detail-oriented and engaged through and through, and were able to transform our vision into a very special reality. They left my client giving standing ovations for the end product. Cannot wait to work with Adam again!

Karen Zabarsky Blashek

Principal, Ground Up Ideas

Adam and his team are easily one of the most competent fabrication shops in Albuquerque. They've beautifully produced every prop and strange design I've brought to them. They're a best combination of practical fabricators and wild dreamers and I love working with them.

Calli Beck

Co-Owner of Stark-Raven Fabrication

Adam and the team at 5 Ton Monkey were an absolute pleasure to work with. When I first reached out I wasn't sure I would be able to find anyone to accommodate my request - but not only did 5 Ton Monkey jump at the opportunity they also took my idea ramblings and random photos of inspiration and turned them into the perfect set. I've never worked with a creative design team that was able to so easily and seamlessly bring a vision of mine to life quite like 5 Ton Monkey did.

Jay Sheets

Wunderkind

Highly recommended! Working with the 5 Ton Monkey team is smooth and inspiring from conception to completion. Factors that really distinguish 5 Ton from others is their responsiveness and flexibility. Having worked with them on a variety of projects including zoo, aquarium and museum exhibits, I don’t hesitate to engage them knowing the final product will be high quality, on budget, and delivered on time. As a designer, I appreciate the sense of teamwork they bring to the table. There’s never a lack of ideas to play with in an effort to solve design and fabrication issues that arise.

Thomas Tomlinson

Exhibit Designer, ABQ Biopark Project Manager

Adam is a freethinker, and he’s a professional businessman with a very strong, creative and original thought process. He’s got skills.

RA Arrancio-Parrain

Production Designer, Art Director

We've had the pleasure of working with Five Ton Monkey on a few projects and the experience has been unparalleled. The level of creativity and the understanding of the project aesthetic made it really easy to achieve our goals. Working with Adam through the design and build process was seamless and delightful. We look forward to continuing to work with the team at Five Ton Monkey!

Nick Taylor

Owner of Masterminds Studios

My experience with Adam and Kirk was nothing short of exceptional! I reached out with a project proposal to bring some creativity and life to a showroom display at the local car dealership I worked for - and they far exceeded my expectations. From the moment Adam sat down with me to dream and plan for the project to the time of execution and assembly, every step was detailed, excellent, and professional. Adam, Kirk, and the entire team at Five Ton Monkey are the real deal and create incredible pieces of art. They love what they do, and that is evident simply by talking to them! If you ever get a chance to see their warehouse, you’ll see for yourself how true that is. Great work, great people!

Amy Stephens