Sculptural Concrete Reception Desk Anchors Annapolis Lobby

Visitors to Chaney Enterprises’ Annapolis headquarters are greeted by more than a check-in point — they’re welcomed by a 3,000-pound architectural precast concrete reception desk that anchors the lobby as an eye-catching focal point. Designed and fabricated by Hyde Concrete, the six-piece modular desk combines razor-sharp geometry, integrated LED backlighting, and custom wood cabinetry to turn an everyday workstation into a piece of corporate art.

Earning international recognition in the ASCC Decorative Concrete Council Awards, the project stands out for its technical execution and ability to embody the client’s brand in a single architectural element.

PROJECT VISION

Chaney Enterprises wanted a reception desk that would make an immediate impression on visitors while reinforcing the company’s long history in concrete production. Founded in 1962, Chaney now operates over 100 ready-mix concrete plants and more than a dozen sand and gravel facilities.

The desk needed to be functional for daily use yet bold enough to serve as the visual anchor of the lobby. Early collaboration between Chaney’s design team and Hyde Concrete helped refine the concept into a piece that balanced sculptural presence with practical considerations such as workspace layout, durability, and long-term maintenance.

The final design reflects Chaney’s brand values and commitment to quality materials, creating a welcoming yet unmistakably concrete-driven focal point.

DESIGN INTENT AND CONSTRAINTS

From the outset, the goal was not simply to build a reception counter but to create a sculptural object that happened to function as a desk. Preconstruction planning was essential.

“After architectural renderings were provided, we developed and returned comprehensive shop drawings and build documents. We engineered a six-piece system that required precise tolerances for seamless assembly,” says the Hyde Concrete team.

This custom concrete desk in the lobby of Chaney Enterprises functions as both a workstation and an architectural element. The desk’s crisp geometry and smooth, uniform surfaces reinforce its contemporary presence and present a clean, uninterrupted concrete face to visitors.

The front face of the desk is sharply faceted, with an integrated toe kick and an angular brake with custom notching for LED lighting. Chaney wanted the piece to communicate strength, precision, and material expertise — the same qualities their own customers value.

Those ambitions came with some complex constraints. The desk had to be broken into sections small enough to move through doors and around existing installations, yet precise enough to join seamlessly in the field. There was essentially no tolerance for trimming or shaving pieces onsite; every dimension had to be finalized in the shop. The design also required the incorporation of LED backlighting and custom wood cabinetry, which meant that Hyde Concrete had to coordinate closely with other trades while detailing forms and connections.

Installation added another layer of complexity. “We maneuvered 1,000+ pound individual components 30 feet above ground level through the renovated building's confined entrance. Safety planning and coordination meetings with contractors ensured safe and incident-free installation,” says Hyde Concrete.

About Hyde Concrete
Hyde Concrete, led by Greg Hryniewicz, has been part of the Concrete Network contractor directory for 21 years. Greg also serves on the board for the American Society of Concrete Contractors. The company's architectural precast, custom countertops, polished concrete floors, stenciled designs, and other high-end work have earned numerous industry honors.

FORMWORK ENGINEERING AND FABRICATION

The desk’s crisp geometry and seamless appearance required meticulous formwork engineering. Because the reception desk had to be fabricated in six modular sections yet appear as one continuous piece in the lobby, Hyde Concrere built custom forms for the most visible faces, using reinforced edges and carefully controlled reveal locations so every joint would land exactly where intended. Since the forms included sharp angles and long, uninterrupted faces where any bugholes or color variation would be immediately noticeable, flowability and consolidation of the concrete mix were especially important.

Ergonomic considerations were also integral to the design. The reception area needed appropriate worksurface heights, sufficient knee clearance, and discreet pathways for cabling and equipment. These functional requirements influenced the shaping of overhangs, cutouts, and internal cavities within the concrete modules. As a result, the finished desk operates effectively as a workstation while presenting a clean, uninterrupted concrete surface for visitors.

Ergonomics also shaped the desk’s design, with required worksurface heights, knee clearance, and routes for concealed cabling guiding the placement of cutouts and cavities within the concrete desk.

FINISHING TECHNIQUES

After demolding, the desk underwent a series of finishing steps to achieve its final appearance. Hyde Concrete honed the surface to create a smooth, tactile finish that invites interaction while maintaining the material’s natural character. Edges were refined, seams minimized, and every detail inspected to ensure consistency across the entire piece.

Because the desk needed to withstand daily use, resist staining, and maintain its appearance over time, Hyde Concrete applied a high-performance sealer that enhances the concrete’s natural character while providing long-term protection and ease of maintenance.

INSTALLATION AND ONSITE COORDINATION

Moving 3,000 pounds of concrete into an occupied corporate building required meticulous logistical planning to ensure that each module could travel from the delivery truck to its final location without alteration. The weight of the components and architectural constraints meant that field adjustments were not feasible.

To minimize disruption, much of the handling and movement of the modules took place during off-hours. Coordination among the project team helped sequence the delivery, guide the pieces through the building, and position them accurately within the architectural layout.

Onsite, assembly began with the precise setting and leveling of the first module, establishing the reference point for the remaining sections. Each subsequent piece was then positioned, aligned, and secured in place. Final integration with surrounding millwork and electrical components ensured that the wood cabinetry, wiring, and lighting connected cleanly with the concrete elements.

AWARD RECOGNITION AND INDUSTRY IMPACT

Hyde Concrete’s achievement illustrates the versatility and expressive potential of architectural precast concrete. The project received national recognition from the ASCC Decorative Concrete Council International Project Awards, where it stood out for its craftsmanship, design execution, and strong visual impact. These qualities are evident in the overall cohesion of the design. The desk reads as a single sculptural element — an effect that requires both technical expertise and artistic vision.

Since installation, the reception desk has become a defining feature of Chaney Enterprises’ headquarters. Staff and visitors alike respond to its presence — both as a functional workspace and as a representation of the company’s identity.

"We are thrilled with how this centerpiece welcomes visitors and embodies our commitment to supporting our customers and communities as we push forward with quality,” says Francis Hall Chaney III, Chaney Enterprises CEO.

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