Tetra Communal Dining Table with four concrete slabs and steel rod base

The Tetra Communal Dining Table

Scottsdale

2011

The Tetra Communal Dining Table was designed to solve a problem. Architect Hayes McNeil, former owner of the Royal Coffee Bar cafés in Phoenix and Scottsdale, had placed a live-edge wood slab communal table at his Camelback location. The issue? One person would sit down, and no one else would join - it felt too close for comfort.

My solution was to rethink what a communal table could be. I designed the tabletop in four separate concrete slabs, tied together with a unified steel rod base. The choice served two purposes:

  1. Practicality - each slab was light enough for two people to carry, making transport and installation manageable.

  2. Comfort - the subtle ½-inch gaps between slabs gave each diner their own psychological “space,” even though the seats were just as close.

The result? A full table, every time. People felt welcome to sit, linger, and connect. The base itself was an engineering challenge, built to hold four independent slabs with complete rigidity and no vibration - a testament to design precision.

Cast in our slate-colored concrete and sealed with our VOC-free reactive sealer, the table not only solved a social design problem but has stood the test of time. Proof that sometimes the smallest details can create the biggest impact.

  • Communal concrete dining table encouraging comfort and connection
  • Handcrafted steel base supporting four individual concrete slabs
  • Artisan communal dining table blending psychology and design innovation
  • Slate-colored concrete tabletop sections with small gaps for diner comfort
  • Artisan communal dining table blending psychology and design innovation
  • Royal Coffee Bar communal dining furniture built in concrete and steel
  • VOC-free sealed concrete dining table designed for heavy café use
  • Tetra Table showing handcrafted concrete slabs with unified steel base

Start the Story of Your Space.

Big things begin small. A note, a sketch, a thought - that’s all it takes to set something timeless in motion. Tell us what’s on your mind, and we’ll help it take shape in concrete.