BASTION Concrete and Steel Conference Table

The Bastion Concrete and Steel Conference Table was the very first piece of furniture I ever built back in 2004. It anchored the conference room in my original shop in Tempe, Arizona, and in a lot of ways, it anchored my journey as a designer.

The table was built like a fortress, with concrete plinths on each end. I formed through-holes so steel bars could slide in, making those heavy wall sections moveable - a practical detail that became a design feature. Two steel I-beams stretched across the span, supporting four concrete slabs that made up the tabletop. Above it all, I cast a black concrete light that still makes me smile when I think about the lessons it taught me. (Pro tip: never try to melt foam out of a mold with acetone unless you want a sticky mess. I learned the hard way.)

Looking back, the BASTION was raw, ambitious, and a little rough around the edges, but it worked - and it worked beautifully. It was the kind of project that proved to me that concrete and steel could be more than building materials. They could be the backbone of timeless furniture.

Over two decades later, I still think the BASTION holds up as a design. And if your office or studio needs a custom concrete conference table, reception desk, or statement piece built to last generations, I’d love to build one for you.