#seating structures

Seating layouts depend on different variables which include; • Room size • Size of the audience • The expected level of activity and interaction When considering the seating layout for the people who will be listening to you, you need to ask yourself these simple but important questions; a. Will everyone be able to see the presenter and the visual aids they will be using? b. Are the chairs comfortable and suitable for the length of the sessions you will be having? Is there a mechanism to hold drinks or for writing material and a laptop? c. Have you factored in special seating for people with special mobility, hearing or visual needs? Answering those questions will greatly help in determining the kind of seating that you will lay out for the audience. The other factor to consider is the size of the group you will be talking to. Here are some tips on how to arrange the audience according to the size of the group. Seating for larger audiences 1. Theatre ‘Lecture seating’ or a  long line of chairs in a row facing the stage and aisles in the middle of the room and on each side of the room will do well for a large group. This is also good for non-interactive meetings where people only listen. 2. Herringbone/Chevron This style has the tables and chairs arranged in consequent rows but at a slanting gradient towards the center. The audience can use the tables to take notes or to place their gadgets and refreshments. Seating arrangement for smaller groups 1. U shape This has tables and chairs in a Ushape. The audiencefaces inwards and is ideal for group discussions where the audience can interact with one another and with the audience. 2. Hollow square The Hollow Square has the audience seating on four sides forming a square or rectangle and facing inwards. This is also perfect for panel meetings and group discussions. 3. Horse Shoe The horse shoe is quite similar to the U shaped arrangement but now without the tables. The presenter can interact with each person, and it is a good arrangement for instruction sessions and small presentations. Seating arrangement for a tiny group 1. Boardroom The boardroom arrangement is the most ideal for tiny groups. Chairs are arranged along a long table. This allows for interaction, but the presentation is restricted to one end of the table. Boardroom arrangements are ideal for team briefing, managerial meetings and client meetings. Conclusion Semi-circular arrangements work well for interactive sessions. Avoid using narrow and long rooms since they take away from the comfort of the listener. Placing seats next to the wall may make the audience feel somewhat claustrophobic. For more information about various seating structures visit http://audise.co.uk/.

Lecture theatres are the appropriate settings in which learning is brought to life. High institutions of learning such as colleges and universities all over the nation rely on them to teach large numbers of students. Attending lectures can be a dull affair if the content being taught is uninspiring or if the lectures have stretched into the night. Similarly, if the seating arrangement is poorly structured, lectures may turn out to be dull and ineffective in delivering content because of numerous audio and visual distractions. Here are reasons why lecture theatre seating should be structured properly. More Concentration and Focus Making sure that individuals in a lecture room are comfortable is as important as the lecturing itself. People are highly likely to listen and concentrate well if they are in a comfortable seating position. Uncomfortable students may be hard to teach because they will be fidgeting and moving here and there trying to get a comfortable position. As such, having the right seating is essential in lecture theatres because it helps in improving the learning experience by attaining high levels of concentration and focus on learning. Minimisation of Distractions If the lecture theatre seating is not properly planned, students are highly likely to be disrupted in their learning by their colleagues who may enter or exit the lecture room. As such, it is ideal to have the students enter and exit towards the back of the seating corridors or aisles instead of approaching or exiting by the front. Seating arrangements should thus be made in a manner that causes least distractions to the rest of the learners and the lecturer. Optimisation of Space, the Field of Vision, and Sound A proper lecture theatre seating arrangement should permit all students to have a clear view of the lecturer, the writing board or any audio-visual displays such as those aired on electronic projectors. The arrangement should also allow clear sound and vision to reach all the learners. With a clear field of vision and proper audible sound, students are likely to learn better because they can see and hear the lecturer as well as what is being taught. Therefore, while trying to optimise the usage of space within the lecture room there should also be efforts in trying to optimise the field of vision and sound so as to ensure that proper learning will be achieved. For more information about lecture theatre seating or different seating structures, visit http://audise.co.uk/.

With an increasing human population and an even higher demand for space, retractable sitting systems have become the buzz. Retractable seating basically includes a range of multi-tiered platforms that provides a sitting area for lots of people within a small area. Retractable seating systems may take the form of chairs or bleachers. In this modern age, retractable seating has a lot of benefits, and they are listed as under: Saves on floor space On any occasion, there is need for floor space by both the hosts and guests. For lectures, floor space is vital for the lecturer for the purpose of teaching, demonstration and illustration. In many instances, normal seats take up too much space that may otherwise be put into better use. Retractable seats, on the other hand, take up little space while at the same time allow for a maximum sitting capacity. Good view Owing to the good angle of view that a retractable seating system provides, it is also referred to as telescopic seating system. Usually, a typical seating arrangement will disadvantage some people owing to its lack of elevation. For a retractable seating platform, however, the tiered nature of the seating areas allows for every participant to catch a glimpse of the happenings. Examples of areas that the retractable seating system has worked to revolutionise are theatres, cinema halls, gymnasiums and arenas. Easier cleaning Retractable seats do have the advantage of easier cleaning too. The fact that the seats are close-knit or continuous as in the case with bleachers makes it a simple chore. For individual seats however, one would need to clean up a piece at a time and make your way through. The choice of a long cleaning mop would really come in handy for the retractable seats since with just one sweep of the hand, you would be able to clean just about every section of the seat. Flexible Retractable seats are suitable for a range of different events. They can be used in lecture halls, in sports stadia and various other areas. The fact that this seat is this highly versatile makes it a popular option for most event organizers. Sitting capacity In the event that you wish to settle a huge audience, retractable seats would be the perfect choice. This is because this type of seat allows for more people as compared to individual chairs. This is made possible by the proximity of persons to each other. The presence of arms and shoulder support in individual chairs takes up the space that would otherwise have been used by humans. Comfort Some types of retractable seats incorporate a chair in their model. This addition makes the seat comfortable and very accommodative. This addition coupled with the raised footrest of the tiers makes this type of retractable seat quite relaxing. The chair complete with arm rests and shoulder support additions is also soothing and suitable for your back. Often, individual chairs with slouched back support are the main cause of back pain, so be sure to choose a seat that suits its purpose. For more information about retractable seating, visit http://audise.co.uk/.

A fixed tiered seating system is a design with seats set in incremental height. The seats at the front, closest to the podium are lower than the ones at the back. Usually, a fixed tiered seating would incorporate all seats connected to a central point. Examples of these can be seen in cinemas, theatres and other social halls. Other than being a popular seating system for events in present day, fixed tiered seats have a number of advantages over the normal seats. Here we seek to outline some of the benefits of this seating system. Saves on space Despite the fact that fixed tiered seats are non - retractable, they still save on more space as compared to normal seats. The fact that the seating platform is set incrementally in height over the other reduces the space that would have otherwise been lost in leaving walking alleys. Additionally, the fact that the seats are in close proximity to each other minimizes on the amount of floor space used to accommodate the seats. The remaining floor space can thereby be put into much better use. Sitting capacity The reason why tiered seats are a preferred choice in most venues is the fact that it can seat more people as compared to regular seats. Whether you opt for bleachers or just chairs installed on the tiers, it still allows for a bigger seating capacity. Furthermore, the elimination of arm rests in most fixed tier seating platforms creates room to accommodate more individuals. Bespoke Considering the size and shape of your venue, you could always propose designs for your preferred fixed tier seating plan. This will work well to suit your tastes and preferences in terms of the general artwork including the upholstery that accompanies the seat. It’s not that often that one gets a chance to design regular chairs by himself though. So having a fixed tier seat that complements your room is certainly a big plus. It is safe and durable This is perhaps the strongest quality of fixed tiered seats. The fact that the seats maintain a stiff non-retractable position makes it a product with a very long service life. Every discernible buyer is of course interested in making a purchase that is worthwhile. The constant retracting of seats will certainly damage the mechanism of the seat over time. Looking for the best seating system for your venue? Choose fixed tier seats.