When installing stadium seating in your auditorium, one of the most critical decisions you’ll make is what type of seats to buy. Stadium seating will provide clear sightlines for the audience, but if the seats are uncomfortable or too small, the audience experience will still not be good.
On the other hand, the right chair selection will reinforce the purpose of stadium seating in the first place—to make the viewing experience as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.
When choosing the right chairs, you should consider:
- Size of the chairs. If the auditorium is in an elementary school, you will obviously be able to get by with smaller seats than for an auditorium that will be filled with adults. However, even in a facility generally used by small children, accommodations should be made for some adults.
- Ergonomics. Chairs in auditoriums should be designed for people to sit in for a long period without discomfort. You should pay close attention to ergonomic factors such as the back pitch of the seats, the general shape of the chair (e.g., curved or straight back), the padding support, the height and breadth of armrests, and the height of the seat from the floor. Sit in the chairs you are considering and decide for yourself if they are comfortable. And think about how they would work for people of differing sizes.
- Covering. There are numerous choices of fabrics and other materials to cover seats. If you’re aiming for luxury, you can choose an elegant material such as velvet. Cloth is a nice choice for comfort. It all depends on your goals for the auditorium and on your budget. (For the practical purposes of cost and durability, you may even decide to use plastic chairs.)
- Color. The color you chose will help create the atmosphere of the auditorium. Dark colors obviously create a different effect than bright colors. Colors can also be mixed to create visual interest.
- Type of installation. Do you want multiple chairs to be joined together? Or do you want each chair to be individual? Do you want the chairs to be permanently fixed in place or to be movable? Knowing your answers to these questions is essential before you can make a selection.
Obviously, cost will be a factor in your decision about what type of chairs to use. And not everyone will be looking to create an upscale auditorium. But don’t settle for less quality than you can get with your budget. By shopping around and consulting with industry professionals who have experience with stadium seating, you can get excellent chairs that will make your seating a treat for audiences.
Photo Credit: David Schott
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