Refurbishing a lecture theatre can seem like a daunting task to those not experienced in handling this type of project. The cost of new lecture theatre seating is a big outlay and you want to ensure you choose the best seats for your budget that will withstand the wear and tear they will be subjected to in a busy educational establishment.
Getting the right supplier on board is critical to the success of any lecture theatre refurbishment project as they can guide you through the process and help with all those elements you will be unfamiliar with.
Below follows a summary of the points you will need to consider when sourcing new lecture theatre seating to help you prepare for conversations with potential suppliers and to ensure everything is covered.
Aesthetics & Comfort
When looking at potential new lecture theatre seats it’s probably the aesthetics that will attract you to a particular style but it’s vital to ensure that style and comfort go hand in hand. With lectures usually lasting a minimum of 2 hours you need to ensure that your students will be comfortable so they can concentrate on the lecture and not be distracted by shuffling around due to a hard, lumpy or generally uncomfortable seat.
Seats need to offer sufficient personal space so students don’t feel too enclosed, seat backs need to provide support and comfort whilst the seats themselves should be supportive and sufficiently cushioned to ensure long term comfort.
It’s a good idea to try out your preferred seats before making a final purchase decision as the only way to truly asses the suitability of a lecture theatre seat is to sit in it yourself for a few hours. Most suppliers should be able to loan you a sample seat so you can do this.
Upholstery Fabric
The colour of your seating is key to the ambience you create in the lecture theatre. If you don’t have a set brief in terms of the look then consider how different colours can impact mood and how you want students to feel when they enter the room. If your current seats are dark and dull, you could take this opportunity to re-energise the space with bright or bold colours or create interest by choosing several different colours which can be fitted in a uniform or random pattern.
Whilst you can view fabric swatch cards online, it’s important to remember that colours in reality can look quite different to on screen so if you are very specific about the shade you want then ask your supplier to send you a physical swatch card or request swatches of the colours you like.
Work Space
Lecture theatre seats are usually accompanied by either rows of fixed desks or individual writing tablets. Fixed desks obviously offer the most generous work space and if students need to use tech or work in collaboration with each other then these are usually the preferred option. Writing tablets can usually be folded away into the seat arm and these are ideal where students may just need to make notes or don’t need any equipment.
Whichever style of desk you choose you’ll have the option of several different finishes from solid colour laminates, to wood effect or real wood. Laminates are a more robust choice in lecture theatres as real wood can easily be damaged and dented.
Technology
It’s likely your existing seats will have been in place for at least 5-10 years and so there may now be a need for tech elements to be incorporated which may not have been a requirement when the seats were first fitted. Desktop charging points and plug sockets are now a common feature in lecture theatres and so any new seats and desks will need to allow for the electricals to be fitted with wiring running within the seat frames and under the floor. Whilst most seating suppliers won’t get involved with the electrics, they can prepare the seats and desks ready to accept sockets and wires by drilling holes in the appropriate places and machining holes for sockets in the desks during the manufacturing process.
Flooring
As it’s unlikely that any new seats you choose will have exactly the same footprint as the old ones you need to consider how this impacts the flooring and any repairs that may need to be carried out once the existing seats are ripped out.
If your lecture theatre already has a tiered floor then the seats you choose will need to fit on the existing tiers whilst still providing sufficient walkways to comply with fire regulations. Experienced seating suppliers will be fully au fait with the regulations and can advise on this.
If you’re going to the expense of purchasing new seating it’s advisable to also have a new carpet fitted. An old, worn carpet is not a great backdrop for smart new seats and will devalue what you have done to improve the seats. Some seating suppliers will source and fit the carpeting for you whilst others will not get involved with this element. If you need to organise new carpet yourself then you will need to co-ordinate timings with both suppliers to ensure the job runs smoothly and is completed in a timely manner.
Removal and Disposal of Existing Lecture Theatre Seats
Lecture theatre chairs are usually large, bulky items and if you’ve got hundreds of them it’s not always an easy task to dispose of them. Not only will you need to find somewhere that will take them off your hands, you will also need to pay them to do so. It’s also important to ensure they are disposed of responsibly and that components are recycled wherever possible. Again, many seating suppliers can handle this for you and will remove the old seats and take them away, prior to fitting the new ones so you don’t have to store them on-site.
Fitting New Lecture Theatre Seating
It’s usually preferable to find a manufacturer who can also fit the seats for you to give a complete and seamless service.They know their own seats and can easily rectify any problems that may arise during the installation process.
Warranty & After Sales Service
As lecture theatre seating is subjected to high frequency usage, always check what warranty is supplied with any seats you are considering. Note that a warranty will not cover general wear and tear or damage inflicted by students but it should cover the seat structure which should be suitable to withstand daily repeated usage in an educational setting.
Good quality lecture theatre seating should not require much maintenance aside from general cleaning but it’s good to have the peace of mind that your supplier will be on hand should any problems arise post-fitting.
About Evertaut
Evertaut has been manufacturing seating in the UK for over 80 years. As established suppliers to the education sector they have designed, manufactured and installed lecture theatre seating in universities and colleges right across the UK.
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