DEPLOYABLE EVENT TABLES
【CLIENT】
Off the Grid
【PLACE + TIME】
San Francisco, CA / 2023
【PROJECT TEAM】
Because We Can ✦ Design Concepts, Renderings, Fabrication
Neal’s CNC ✦ Fabrication assist
If you are lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you have probably been to an Off the Grid event. Designed for heavy public use every weekend, these deployable, rolling picnic table seating units are beautiful as well as functional. We designed them as individual units to easily seat 4 adults with nice high backs, leg room and a transparent windscreen.
A quick rendering to show the design intent to the client. This is always part of our design process and helps the client visualize what the end product will look like before we start fabrication.
In person the event tables are comfortable and beautiful. They’ve been extremely popular at the events, and have allowed our client to dramatically increase their seating capacity.
Our material choices for these were based on the need to withstand the harsh bay ocean air as well as the heavy public use. So we chose thick cedar planks on the seats, backs and tables to survive the sea air and present a soft warm inviting color. Endlessly refinishable, these planks will live a long useful life. The powder coated steel frames, polycarbonate wind screens and locking casters were our choice to keep the units functional and durable to the heavy traffic these units receive every weekend.
Shown here in the shop, assembled in their individual units and waiting for wheels. The benches are designed to come apart for easy transportation and storage to different events.
Here, a single unit is set up for testing in the shop.
Designed to break down for easy transportation to events and storage, the units nest together in the truck.
The client would need to load and unload these for each event, so easy stacking, nesting and manuverabilty was key in the design. Two people can assemble a unit, which breaks down into four big chunks with large and easy to handle bolt connections; making it quick work for the team.
Working closely with the staff needs for the mobility & set up of the tables, we designed a custom cart to make their job that much easier.
The delightful table and seat units have a fun and functional shape to them, adding a lovely design element to the events. These are not off the shelf generic picnic tables, but custom designs that elevate the experience for the event goers.
Able to be configured in multiple arrangements, the mobile event tables are used every weekend at the Fort Mason Off the Grid event- come on by and take a seat!
About: Off the Grid approached us after enjoying the Parklet units we made for The Interval. Wanting to expand seating capacity at their events, but with many requirements of mobility, ease of set up, unique style and user comfort, we were excited for the challenge. We worked closely with the client to create a break down & set up system that would work well for their staff.