When selecting the perfect seating solution for your school auditorium space, the variety of auditorium fixed seating choices on the market can be overwhelming. Determining which style will satisfy your budget, your design and, ultimately, your audience, isn’t easy. But, you’re in luck! We’ve compiled the top features to consider when choosing the perfect auditorium seating for your next project.
- Design
Auditorium chairs come in an extensive array of shapes, sizes, styles and colors – truly a designer’s dream. Depending on the seating style selected, you can mix and match colors, add embroidery and even order seats with custom images. The possibilities are endless!
- Comfort
Comfort is an invaluable element for the audience who will use the chairs, but it’s not always the first priority when you’re overseeing a project from a construction or design perspective. How long will the audience be sitting? Will the comfort level of the chair impact the overall user experience?
- Budget
Auditorium chairs range from the most economical to luxury – and that’s for the base models. With each add-on, the price increases, so it’s important to differentiate between the nice-to-haves and the must-haves during your deliberation.
While prices fluctuate based on space and features, extensive customization options ensure that your team can tailor seating solutions to your needs and budget. Common additions that impact price include wire management, aisle lights, fabric selections, end panel materials and more.
- Function
When deciding which add-ons are must-haves versus nice-to-haves, you’ll need to consider the uses of the auditorium space. Will the room often be dimly lit during a performance necessitating the need for aisle lights? Will students need the surface area of an integrated tablet arm or stand-alone tablet for note taking? Will your events have assigned seats marked by row letters and seat numbers? Will your audience need a power source? Will drinks be allowed in the space, creating the need for cupholders? These types of questions will help your team determine the necessary add-ons that will optimize the functionality of the chair you select.
- Cleaning
Cleaning is important for the longevity of the auditorium seating you choose. When you consider how your auditorium seats will be cared for in the long run, you may rethink which add-on options are must-haves.
How many visible seams and grooves are there to maneuver around when cleaning? Which colors and fabrics will show the least amount of wear? How often will the seats be cleaned? How likely are audience members to put their feet on the backs of the chairs? Will upholstery or wood-backed chairs be easier to clean if they get stained or scuffed?
- Space
Consider the amount of room you have at your disposal and your capacity requirements. These two factors will narrow down your seating options as you keep in mind the measurements of each seat and the amount of room needed between rows. Some seating styles offer a variety of width and reclining options as well, which will need to be calculated into the configurations.
- Layout
The layout of your space may not only dictate the auditorium chair you choose but may also determine the auditorium seating manufacturer you partner with for the project. Auditorium styles can be installed on a tiered, sloped or flat floor and arranged in straight or radius row configurations. This versatility gives you more options as the customer – a seating solution for every design and every budget.
- Acoustics
When you’re selecting an auditorium chair, it’s the perfect time to consider acoustics, as well. Because the acoustics of any environment are determined by the surfaces within it, chairs in an auditorium play a key role in the way sound reverberates. Upholstered seats will absorb sound, while wood and laminate paneling create an echo that will need to be addressed with additional sound absorption on the walls and ceilings.
This information is courtesy of Sedia Systems, a leading global manufacturer of lecture hall and auditorium furniture, www.sediasystems.com.
