The third-year Product Design studio at the University of Kentucky was approached by the Office of Sustainability to create a custom circular conference table. The table was made from six different species of wood from the Campus Woods, an initiative between the Office of Sustainability, UK Grounds, and the University Forestry Department to find alternative uses for trees removed from the University campus. The students involved in the project not only learned about sustainable materials sourcing but also had the opportunity to delve into the fabrication process.
Watch the video below to see the process of table construction from start to finish!
The creation of this custom circular conference table was a remarkable learning opportunity for the third-year product design students involved in the project. The use of locally sourced and sustainably harvested wood from Campus Woods was not only environmentally responsible but also a way to connect the students to the local heritage of the trees on the university campus. This unique opportunity presented students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the entire process of product design, from design conception and prototyping to material selection and fabrication, to finishing and assembly. Additionally, students were able to learn about sustainable design practices and how to incorporate them into their designs. Caden, one of the students involved with this project commented “When I was first briefed on this project, my initial reaction was just excitement. my mind naturally began racing to fill itself with as many possible features, design aspects, and just potential directions the project could take. To say I was eager to get started was an understatement.”
To begin the project, the students visited the Campus Woods inventory to select the best boards of lumber, which were then transported to the Cox Shavings Facility for drying, this lumber drying facility dried the wood necessary for the fabrication free of charge for the College of Design students. During this time, each student designed and created a miniature scale model of the tabletop, from which the Sustainability Office selected a final design. The Final design selected is made from three nested circles. Each circle is half the size of the circle it is located inside.
After approximately two weeks, the dried lumber was picked up and the fabrication process began. The students joined and planned the rough-cut lumber to accurate sizes, gluing them together to form larger blocks. These blocks were then machined on a CNC machine to produce the inner circle and small circle for the tabletop. The outer rim was constructed using two jigs that were created to quickly cut individual pieces at the same angles, ensuring the necessary accuracy for its production. The pieces were then joined using dominos and cut to size on the CNC machine. The inner circle was machined to fit inside the cavity of the outer rim, with a precision of 0.001”.
The students designed multiple brand designs to label the different species of lumber and to tell their story as they were part of the living fabric of the UK’s campus. The final brands were laser engraved onto the lumber before the CNC operations. These brands shared information such as the age of the trees, their location on campus, and the time when they were felled.
To assemble the tabletop, the students went through three separate glue-up operations, starting with the inner circle glued to the outer rim. After the glue had dried, the circle was machined to create a cavity for the smaller circle. Another glue-up was done to attach the smaller circle to the larger circle that was machined, with each glue-up left to dry overnight and weighted down for a proper bond between the parts. Once assembled, the students applied resin over the brands and filled any holes in the wood, sanding the resin down to be flush with the surface. The bottom of the table was coated three times with an oil-based polyurethane, and the top received five coats for protection.
Mason, another third-year student who was part of the studio added “This project was by far the most involved woodworking task I’ve ever been a part of. While I’ve worked on extremely involved, fast-turnaround projects previously, working with wood always provides unique time constraints that other materials don’t. Learning to work around these constraints and plan, often weeks ahead is something I’ll be able to carry into all future projects.”
One-to-one fabrication projects such as this one offer students a unique learning opportunity that cannot be replicated in a classroom setting. It provides students with exposure to the realities of working in a professional environment and challenges them to think creatively and problem-solve. These projects offer students a chance to apply the theoretical knowledge they have gained in the classroom to real-world scenarios, making the learning experience both tangible and memorable. The final product, a beautiful and sustainable circular conference table, is a testament to the student’s hard work and creativity.
The project of creating a custom circular conference table for the University of Kentucky’s Office of Sustainability was not just a task, but a valuable learning opportunity for the third-year Product Design students. They were able to hone their skills in lumber selection, drying processes, designing, fabricating, and finishing techniques. The students got a chance to work with various wood species and understand their unique properties, characteristics, and challenges. This project contributed to the University’s Sustainability Efforts and made a meaningful impact in the community. The resulting conference table will not only serve as a functional piece of furniture but also as a symbol of the University’s commitment to sustainability and to preserving its campus history. The custom circular conference table will be a testament to the talent and creativity of the students, as well as a representation of their passion for sustainability and their dedication to making a positive impact on the world.
The UK Office of Sustainability thanks Coca-Cola Consolidated for their financial support of the Campus Woods program. Through an innovative aspect of the University’s pouring rights contract, Coca-Cola Consolidated provides annual funding support for student-focused sustainability projects and programs.
Thank you to third-year design students (pictured above) Richard Blevins, Olivia Gascon, Mason Gohde, Amir Pasha Mohaghegh, Karley Tucker, Nick Williams, and Caden Worley for their dedication to the project.