A custom table for the Empathy Suite

PoolTablePortfolio’s project account describes a custom Burj billiard table for the Empathy Suite at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. The resort independently lists Hirst-designed pool and foosball tables among the suite’s amenities. Historical launch prices should not be treated as a current quote; contact Palms for present rates and booking terms.

Design and collaboration

The suite was designed by Damien Hirst with Bentel & Bentel, as credited in Palms-supplied photographs published with contemporary coverage. Palms currently lists its area as 9,156 square feet. Artsy’s reporter, who visited at the March 2019 launch, described six specially made works and Spin imagery on the pool table.

Materials and details

In our project account, the rails feature a white piano gloss finish with stainless steel band accents. The Lucite acrylic legs create a platform effect that makes the table look like it is floating. The playing surface fabric was custom printed with Hirst’s Spin artwork at a UK textile plant.

A minimal white gloss floor cue rack was custom made for the project. We also built a lucite double-stacked triangle so the balls remain visible and the artist print shows through the rack.

For a room-specific project of your own, review what to expect from a bespoke pool table commission before preparing the design brief.

Launch and experience

The unveiling took place on March 1, 2019. Contemporary WireImage photography records Gordon Ramsay and Peter Bentel at the event; Artsy’s reporter also described meeting Hirst there. For our team, contributing the custom table was a rewarding commission.