FireBoard’s New Conference Table is (partially) 100 years old

An enjoyable part of moving into a new work environment is the nesting process. Furniture selection is an excellent way to express our identity as a company.   Our Director of Product Design and Development, Paul Skelton knows this well.  While he was on paternity leave, offered up some design ideas for a new conference table.

The table top would take advantage of some of the leftover flooring material from the upper levels, which itself was reclaimed. Renderings of FireBoard’s conference table and its steel base.

What he proposed would be made from materials used in the renovation of the building, including steel, and tongue and grooved flooring that was reclaimed from a Kentucky bourbon distillery.

Paul cutting trim pieces for the over 100-year-old reclaimed flooring used as the feature material of FireBoard’s new conference table.

“Use your surroundings”

Furthermore, Paul’s design also is inspired by the visual vocabulary of FireBoard product design.  The shapes and colors from FireBoard products, thus make a piece of furniture with connections to both the building and the company. The concept of “use your surroundings” was also an underlying inspiration to him on this project.

Progression of the 100+-year-old wood. Paul commented that he was surprised by the pre-existing yellow and white paint on the wood, and was not able to see it until after some sanding.

Progress and view of the trim surrounding the tabletop. For the steel base, Paul collaborated with Custom Cut Metals.

Paul started by layering up 3 sheets of plywood as a base and then lay the flooring pieces on top of the plywood.  This resulted in a tabletop that is  3 inches thick.  All of this he was able to accomplish from materials that were already on hand.

Super Glossy

Over seven gallons of epoxy resin were applied to achieve a piano-like finish.   Given the thickness of the wood used and the amount of epoxy, Skelton estimates the top alone to weigh 300 pounds.

Paul and Byron applied seven gallons of epoxy to create a high-shine appearance to what will be the centerpiece of FireBoard’s new conference room.

Finished Product

Three views of the table’s construction. The final product matches Paul’s initial rendering quite nicely.

The centerpiece of FireBoard’s new conference table covers a hidden chase for power and video cables.  This cover is made from two pieces of PVC and the logo was CNC routed by a Kansas City sign shop called The Local Print Shop.

FireBoard’s new conference table made from reclaimed flooring material is estimated to weigh 600 pounds.