Portfolio / CNC Routing the SuperTemplate

Before there was the SuperDesk there was the SuperTemplate.

When the creative agency The Barbarian Group set out to design their new offices in New York City, they worked with Clive Wilkinson Architects to create a workspace that would provide “the most collaborative, creative environment possible” as well as a space that would “provoke a reaction.” The result was the SuperDesk, an “endless table” flowing throughout the entire 20,000+ sq. ft. loft space. The continuous surface winds around columns and walls, arching up in places to create gathering spaces and paths throughout the space. With an unbroken surface of over 4000 sq. ft., the enormous desk would be large enough to seat the entire company and then some, and it definitely seemed to provoke the response they were looking for (it even came to life on Twitter). In order to fabricate the SuperDesk, Clive Wilkinson Architects turned to Machineous, the Los Angeles based fabrication experts with a history of producing complicated projects. Using industrial robots, Machineous laser cut all the plywood components that would form the structure of the SuperDesk.

Before flat-packing and shipping all the pieces from California to New York City, Machineous called on us to help them with a method for double-checking everything. While many models—both physical and digital—were produced prior to production, the irregularities of an oddly-placed column or two in the old NYC Garment District loft building could create a lot of headaches for the giant monolithic desk. So, we fabricated the SuperTemplate. First, a drawing of the entire desk projected down onto the floor was created. This was then split up into hundreds of pieces that could be cut from 4′ x 8′ sheets of Masonite on our CNC router. The installers could then assemble this 1:1 template on the floor of The Barbarian Group’s offices in order to discover any problems before the final parts made their way across the country.

UPDATE: According to a somewhat tongue-in-cheek press release on their website, The Barbarian Group has apparently “transcended the physical office model” and accordingly has sold the SuperDesk. If it does find a new home, let us know if you need a SuperTemplate.

Images of the installation process provided by Joe Vidich of Kin & Company.