Big reception desk

[Crazyraceguy]

Though it's not the biggest desk I have ever built, it is pretty big. They always look especially large up on 20" high blocks, but that is a huge back-saver, when working on the lower parts.
I forgot to take any pics before starting to take it apart for shipping, so one section is down on the floor already.
It's a "corner fill" type wall unit that meets up with existing walls when installed. 18' one direction, 45 degree clip and 20.5' the other way. It's clad with solid surface (Corian) on the front face and the upper transaction top with a matching inner countertop that is 28" deep. That is fairly odd, usually they are only 25". Wood grain pattern plastic laminate on the inside, with a few matching file drawer stacks to be added at install.

 

[squall_line]

Without revealing any trade secrets or client confidential information, is there a specific reason for the extra 3" of depth?

I'm guessing the rolling stool is also a back saver, besides just the 20" blocks!

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I really have no idea why the extra depth? Usually the only time a top is that deep is when it goes all the way to the outside of the wall. Like in a situation where the raised transaction top area is not continuous.
That unit ended up taking almost 7 sheets of Corian.

The one I started yesterday, after taking that down, goes to the same facility, so it uses the same colors/materials, but looks very different. It is a big radius, with only a small raised center section.
It should be pretty well done by the end of the day tomorrow, assuming I get to stay on it.

 

[Cheese]

I assume the corner section is 1-piece and it's connected to a straight section on each side? I'm just looking for seams.  [smile]

 

[Packard]

My question is:  How are you going to transport it?

Very impressive structure.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Yes Cheese, the corner is one section. It is a total of 4 pieces, the shortest is 80 3/4", longest 129".
I also included a pic of the inside, w/o the inner top or the access panels.

You won't find the seams in the pics, the resolution would never be that good, but they are very hard to see in person. When it is reassembled and installed they will be glued and never be seen again.
It will take a bulldozer to remove it someday when they remodel though.

I have no idea what those blotchy looking parts are? must be dust on the lens, they are not there in reality.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The radius wall that goes in the same facility. It's about 90% done, except for the solid surface parts.

 

[squall_line]

Are the inner and outer panel kerf bent?  I'm trying to understand what I'm seeing as far as the regular cuts/openings along the whole radius.  At first I thought domino slots for alignment of the top, then I wondered if they were kerfs, or maybe a little of Column A and a little of Column B...?

 

[Birdhunter]

I made a reception desk for my Pilates Studio a few years ago, but nothing like your “edifice”. My client (I did the work for free) had a limited budget so I used 8 full sized sheets of Baltic birch.  I built the pieces in my garage with the longest pieces being 8 feet by 4 feet. Lots of Dominos. There was a secretary shelf around the “L” shape and 2 sets of built in drawer sets. This was the biggest project I had ever undertaken. It was dry fitted in my garage and then trucked to the studio.  The owner tried spray painting it, but gave up and hired a pro.  I had 3 guys, all clients of the studio, helping with the assembly. Lots of glueing, screwing, and tapping joints together. Finally, it was complete! The owner later replaced the BB top with marble. I go there twice a week and the reception desk looks great.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Are the inner and outer panel kerf bent?  I'm trying to understand what I'm seeing as far as the regular cuts/openings along the whole radius.  At first I thought domino slots for alignment of the top, then I wondered if they were kerfs, or maybe a little of Column A and a little of Column B...?

Yes, kerf bent ply. That's part of the beauty of the beam saw. It has the ability to make grooves of any depth and width. Therefore it's just pull up the saved program, load the sheet, push the button and walk away. I can be doing other things while it works. 6 sheets total. On anything where the ply is attached to something and supported, it goes on smooth side out. On the access panels, which are loose, I laminate them with the kerfs toward the laminate. This brings a skin back to the other side, making it stiff again. I'll take a pic of that this morning and post it later.

 

[Cheese]

Very interesting...there's a lot more things happening on the inside than on the outside.  [smile]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

My question is:  How are you going to transport it?

Very impressive structure.

It comes apart into 4 sections, which are still darn heavy. They all get a solid bottom panel screwed to them from the inside, which makes them slide on smooth concrete pretty well. They get loaded onto furniture dollies to get into the truck and then that panel gets screwed to the truck floor and support braces as needed. We have two big straight trucks with lift gate platforms and one even has a side roll-up door, so long items can be forklifted from the ground, out the side.