Crafted to Gather: The Story Behind Teknion’s G7 Summit Table

Set against the splendor and beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, master woodworkers at Teknion’s Solutions facility in Calgary crafted a custom oak conference table for the Canadian government at the 2025 G7 Summit. The annual political and economic forum brought heads of state from around the world quite literally to our table. Requested for the primary Outreach Room where G7 Nations and Outreach Countries would gather, the resulting table is a 39-foot centerpiece. It is a stunning representation of artisanal woodcraft and the kind of craftsmanship that comes from decades of experience and a deep respect for the raw material.

Designing with Purpose: Beautiful and Smart

Designing a table for the G7 is not a request we see every day. It needed to be grand, yes, but also flexible. The Outreach Room table had to accommodate many seats, adapt to future uses, and, of course, look stunning.

The 39-foot table is fully reconfigurable, breaking down into eight sections. In its primary configuration, it comfortably seats up to 40 guests. The expansive surface is supported by a split island base, a design decision that helps the table feel visually light despite its monumental scale. For more intimate groups, the table transforms, reducing its length with the successive removal of each of the six rectangular sections. Hidden power and data ports are fitted along the table’s surface, anticipating a range of tech options that might be used during and after the summit. A cleverly designed, veneer-matched central plinth conceals ports and cords while maintaining accessibility. (No messy cords here, thank you very much.) It’s a thoughtful nod to future-proofed design that accepts different uses.

Left: The table's two rounded ends come together to form a 9-foot circular table. Right: Hidden power and data ports fitted along the table’s surface.

Material Matters: The Strength of Canadian Oak

Now, let’s talk wood. Wood tells a story, its history ingrained in its every aspect. The table is made with veneer from quarter-cut Canadian red oak, sourced from the Algonquin Park region in Southwestern Ontario. This wasn’t just a design choice; it is a statement.

Oak is known for its strength, longevity, and dense grain—ideal characteristics for both durability and workability. It is also seen as a symbol of resilience, endurance, and strength, which are qualities that mirror the rugged wilderness of Kananaskis—and, perhaps, the conversations unfolding around the table.

The stain was chosen in keeping with the intention for the table to serve as a strong and understated diplomatic backdrop. A custom-blended, eco-minded stain in an open-pore Salted Oak finish mutes the oak’s natural warm tones, delivering a light and timeless look while preserving the tactile feel of the wood. The result enhances the vibrant grain pattern, highlighting the inherent beauty of this natural material.

Left: Laying out & hand matching the veneer. Right: Detail of the oak grain.

Some Tables are Built, Others are Crafted

Crafting this table wasn’t just about cutting and joining—it was about storytelling through wood. The artisans at Teknion’s Calgary Solutions facility created a hand-finished starburst veneer pattern that radiates from the center of the table’s rounded ends.

Here’s the twist: the raw oak, like any natural material, had imperfections that at first caused the team to worry. Would there be enough material to complete the pattern? The margin for error was razor-thin. Each piece of veneer was carefully laid out, aligned, and pressed to create a seamless, functional work of art. Despite the natural flaws of the wood, the finishing team achieved clean, precise stitching with minimal filler—an impressive feat in any veneer pattern, let alone one this intricate.

The size of the table required the Teknion Solutions team to use two logs for the project. Traditionally, it is preferred to work with veneer from a single tree to ensure consistency. The two logs were stained and matched so seamlessly, you’d never know. It’s the kind of detail that makes Teknion Solutions more than a manufacturing facility, but a shop of craft and pride. The hand of the maker is evident in everything we do.

Left: Working through the details. Right: Pressing the veneer into the starburst pattern on a table this big required many helping hands.

A Table Worth Talking About

This isn’t just a table, it’s a testament. To Canadian craftsmanship. To smart, lasting design. To the respect for the lived history of natural materials and the people who shape them.

Teknion’s G7 Summit table blends beauty with design intelligence: It’s engineered with rigor and finished with care. It’s a piece that will serve the Canadian government long after the summit ends, adapting to new spaces and new conversations.

And perhaps most importantly, it’s a symbol. A place where vision and collaboration meet. In a world that’s constantly shifting, there is something grounding about a table made from the hands of craftsmen honoring the characteristics of Canadian oak—strong, enduring, and ready to host the next chapter of global dialogue.

Following the G7 Summit, the table continues to be of service as a gathering point for discussions between dignitaries. Carefully dismantled and fitted inside custom-built crates (no scratches, please!), the table has been transported to its permanent location within Canada’s parliamentary offices in Ottawa, where it will be used for a variety of official government meetings.

If you were having trouble picturing just how big a 39-foot table would feel like, here is Teknion's Solution's team standing behind it.