A lot of conference tables in Denver offices are in perfectly good shape. The wood or laminate still looks great, the size still fits the room, and nobody has complained about the chairs. The problem is that the table was bought before everyone showed up to meetings with a laptop, a phone and a video call to join.
So people run extension cords across the floor, pass a single power strip around, or drape an HDMI cable down the middle of the table. It works, sort of. But it looks messy, it is a trip hazard, and it is one more thing that makes the room feel dated.
Before you price out a new table, it is worth knowing that you can usually add power, data and AV to the one you already have.
What a cut-in is
A power and data cut-in means cutting precise openings into an existing table or work surface and installing hardware for power, data and AV connections. Done well, the result looks like the table was ordered that way.
There are a few common options, and the right one depends on how the room gets used.
Grommets
Grommets are the simplest upgrade. A round hole is drilled through the tabletop and finished with a grommet cap, so cords can drop through the surface to power below instead of running across it.
Grommets are a good fit for rooms that mostly need a clean way to route laptop chargers, or for tables where the main goal is getting cables off the surface. They are quick to install and do not change the look of the table much.
Power and AV boxes
For rooms that host presentations or video calls, a power and AV box set into the tabletop is usually the better answer. These units typically combine outlets, USB charging and connections like HDMI in one spot. Many have a flip-up or pop-up lid so the table surface stays clean when nobody is using them.
Placement matters here. A box in the middle of a long table can serve people on both sides. On larger tables, two or more boxes spaced along the length keep everyone within reach of power without passing cords around.
Concealed cable management
Cutting a clean hole in the top is only half the job. The other half is what happens underneath.
Concealed cable management means routing cords along the underside of the table and down through the base or a leg, so you do not see a tangle of wires hanging below. Cable trays, clips and channels keep everything tidy and out of the way of knees and feet. This is the step that makes the upgrade look finished from every angle, not just from above.
Getting power to the table
A table in the middle of a room is often nowhere near a wall outlet. That is usually why the extension cords showed up in the first place.
One good option is under-carpet power. Low-profile systems like Connectrac and Steelcase Thread run flat beneath carpet tile to deliver power and data to floating tables without core drilling or trenching the concrete. We wrote more about this in under-carpet power for Denver offices.
Where hardwiring is involved, we coordinate with your electrician, data and AV vendors so each piece lines up and the project is not held up waiting on one trade.
Why upgrade instead of replace?
You keep a table you like. Good conference tables are often well built and expensive. If the table still fits the room and the look of the office, there is no reason to replace it just to get outlets.
It is usually faster. New conference tables, especially larger ones, can come with long lead times. A cut-in can often be done in a short visit, sometimes after hours so the room is not out of service during the workday.
It costs less. Adding hardware to the table you have generally costs a fraction of buying new, which leaves budget for other projects. If you are trying to use up remaining budget before the year closes, this is the kind of project that fits. More on that in using leftover office budget before year-end.
What to think about before you cut
- How the room is used. Daily video calls need different hardware than a room used mostly for internal meetings.
- Where people sit. Place power where hands naturally reach, not just where it is easiest to install.
- What the table is made of. Solid wood, veneer, laminate and glass each need a different approach. Some materials are not good candidates for cutting, and we will tell you if that is the case.
- Future changes. If the room might be reconfigured later, pick hardware and power routing that can move with it.
Let’s look at your conference room
If your conference table is in good shape but the room keeps fighting your meetings, we are happy to come take a look and tell you honestly what would work. You can read more about table cut-ins on our custom modifications page.
Call 303.371.4049 or send us a message.