Why Choose Beam Seating Instead of Individual Waiting Room Chairs?

Hospital Corridor With Row Of Waiting Room Beam Seating

For those responsible for furnishing a waiting room or waiting area, there’s a wide choice of seating available. Whilst individual waiting room chairs are commonplace in many establishments, beam seating is becoming ever more popular as a waiting room seating solution.

Beam seating is most widely available with 2 to 5 seat positions and offers many benefits over traditional waiting room chairs.

Your Waiting Room Remains Accessible And Uniform

Beam seating is generally available with a choice of free-standing or floor-fixing legs. Choosing the floor-fixing option means that your beam seating will always remain in position, keeping your waiting room accessible at all times. Even with free-standing legs, beam seating is not easy to move around, thanks to its sturdy metal frame, so walkways should always remain clear. In contrast, individual waiting room chairs can easily be moved around, potentially blocking walkways and making your waiting room look cluttered and untidy.

Beam Seating Makes Your Waiting Room Easier To Clean

Beams with up to 4 seats will usually only have 2 legs, compared to up to 16 legs on individual chairs. This makes them much easier to clean underneath and around. 5-seat beams will generally require 3 legs for stability, but this is still much fewer than individual chairs.

In addition to this, the open space under beam seating also helps make a waiting area look more spacious.

Hospital Waiting Room With Rows Of Waiting Room Beam Seating And Waiting Room Chairs

Tailored To Your Requirements

Most beams offer the option of integral tables with the ability to replace any seat position with a table. This flexibility allows you to tailor your waiting room seating to your requirements. With a wide choice of fabric and vinyl colours and a range of table laminate colours, you can create an individual look for your establishment.

Evertaut Dandi Beam Waiting Room Seating With Integral Table

 

Beam seating is available with plastic, metal, wooden or upholstered seats so you can choose the material most suitable for your establishment.

Upholstered seats are obviously the most comfortable option, and these can usually be found in hospitals and healthcare establishments where anti-microbial vinyl makes an ideal cover material.

Beams with vinyl upholstery are also popular in businesses such as barbers’ shops and vets’ practices where the ability to wipe clean is a key requirement.

Metal beams can often be found in very high traffic waiting areas, such as airports, train stations and ferry ports. In these types of locations metal beams require minimal maintenance and can withstand severe wear and tear. It is also difficult for them to be damaged by vandalism or misuse.

Beams Can Be Used Alongside Waiting Room Chairs

If you want to create a more relaxed feel in your waiting room, you may think that beam seating looks too uniform, but this doesn’t have to be the case. You could combine it with individual waiting room chairs to offer a range of different seating to your visitors.

You can also make beam seating more inviting and visually appealing by using different fabric or vinyl colours on each seat, as was done in the hospital corridor waiting area pictured below.

Evertaut Bradford Beam Waiting Room Chairs In Hospital Corridor

Guide to Sourcing New Lecture Theatre Seating

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.

How to Revive the Fixed Seating in your Theatre

The seats in theatres and cinemas are subject to rigorous wear and tear and will eventually reach the stage of needing an upgrade. Whether you’re responsible for an operational venue, or you’ve taken over an old building with an auditorium that’s been out of use for a while, it’s not always necessary to rip out the old seating and replace it with new. It’s often possible to successfully refurbish even the most worn looking seats and return them to their former glory.

The chairs in this large theatre were in a very sorry state with threadbare arms and ripped seats but refurbishment made them beautiful again.

Even if you want to create a completely different look and feel in your auditorium you can still do this with your existing seats by choosing a different colour upholstery fabric. The traditional theatre auditorium pictured below was given a striking new look when the original seating was reupholstered in a completely different fabric colour. The original wooden arms were replaced with fully upholstered ones which were padded to improve comfort. New flooring and redecorating of the walls also helped freshen the look whilst retaining the original character of the room.

Why Refurbish?

There are many reasons why you might choose to refurbish your fixed seating rather than replace it. Budget is often a key factor in this decision as it can take years to fundraise for new seats or successfully apply for grants whilst refurbishment is usually a much cheaper option. 

Long established theatres may still have the original seats which are in keeping with the heritage of the building. In such cases you may not want to lose the traditional character and style of the auditorium by installing seats with a modern design. If your building is listed, you may not even be permitted to do this and refurbishment may be your only option. 

Or it may just simply be that you like the design of your existing seats and don’t want to change them.

Evertaut refurbished the fixed seating in the world-famous Crucible Theatre which is a grade II listed building. We sourced new yellow fabric, colour matched to the original.

How is Fixed Seating Refurbished? 

There are various options when it comes to refurbishment from basic reupholstery to replacement foams, shot-blasting metalwork, and the making of new castings to match the originals where ornate seat frames have been damaged. 

It’s important to find a supplier who is experienced in refurbishing fixed seating in your type of venue, and in the case of listed buildings you need someone who understands the complexities of this process and is sensitive to retaining an authentic look.

Reupholstery 

The quickest way to transform your theatre seats is with reupholstery. If your seat foams are still in good condition a change of fabric may be all that’s needed. Following an assessment of the seats your re-upholsterer will determine whether they can be refurbished on site or if it’s best to take them away. It’s not usually necessary to remove the entire seat, often it’s easier to remove the seats, backs and arms, leaving the metalwork in situ. It will be a quicker process to refurbish all the individual components off site and then return to refit them. This method may also be preferable if you want to do the refurbishment in several stages, if you’re a theatre without any dark time.

With such a wide choice of upholstery fabrics on the market you can transform the look of your fixed seating with a new colour choice or different type of fabric. Your supplier will be able to show you swatch cards of what’s available and you can request larger size samples of any fabrics you like to help you make a decision.

Seat Foams & Arms 

If your seats are really old, then it’s likely the foams will have started to sag and covering them with new upholstery will not disguise this. It’s easy to replace the foams as part of the reupholstery process and this will not only enhance the comfort for your audience but ensure your refurbished seats will give many more years of service before they need further attention. 

Old theatre seats often have solid wooden arms which whilst robust, are not the most comfortable solution. These can easily be replaced with fully upholstered arms with integral foam pads. If you want to retain the originals then these can be sanded and varnished or painted.

Seat & Back Boards 

If your existing seats have exposed wooden boards on backs and under seats these can either be sanded and repainted or varnished, replaced with new, or covered to give the seat a fully upholstered finish. Pictured below left, the seats in this small cinema have exposed wooden panels under the seat and on backs whilst the hotel cinema room on the right features fully upholstered seats.

Metalwork 

Often a light sand and repaint is all that’s needed to refresh the metalwork as seat frames are generally very robust. For seats with original ornate castings which have been damaged or deteriorated over time, closer attention is required and it’s usually possible to make new castings to replace them. 

Consider Refurbishment as an Option 

So, whatever the state of your existing seats, if you’re thinking about replacing them, consider refurbishment as an option. If you can’t decide whether it’s the right solution for your venue then talk to your supplier and find out what level of work they would recommend is required. You can also ask them to quote for both new fixed seating and refurbishment so you can compare the costs.

This old theatre had been out of use for many years; the traditional style seats were not only worn but covered in a thick layer of dust. When the building was taken over by another operator, they chose to refurbish rather than replace the seats. Thicker foams improved comfort, metalwork was cleaned and re-painted, reupholstery was done in a similar colour fabric to the original whilst new under-seat boards finished off the smart new look.

Finance Your New Theatre Seating With Leasing

Whether you’re looking to replace or refurbish your theatre seating, leasing is an option you may not have considered.

Replacing the seating in your theatre is a big investment but whilst it’s a job that may need doing urgently, a lack of funding is often the main cause of delay in going ahead with such works. Fundraising to upgrade the seating in your auditorium can sometimes take years, meanwhile audiences can be tempted away to newer venues or alternative means of entertainment. 

As a solution to this common problem, Evertaut is now offering leasing as an option to Limited Companies who don’t want to wait to replace or refurbish their seating. Replacing your seating without delay will enhance the theatre experience for your audience and attract new patrons – increasing revenue with immediate effect. Leasing can also be a surprisingly cost-effective option as it’s fully tax deductible against profits, and with fixed interest and fixed monthly payments you always know exactly what you’ll be paying with no unexpected costs.

Key Benefits of Leasing:

• Upgrade your seating without delay
• No major up-front costs
• Fixed monthly payments
• Fixed interest
• Tax deductible against profits

So if your theatre seating has seen better days you can replace or refurbish it immediately and begin to reap the rewards straight away. This allows you the flexibility to pay for it on a monthly basis over several years, meanwhile your fundraising activities can continue to help with the repayments.

To find out more about leasing, or for a no-obligation quotation, please contact our Director, Nigel Smalley on 01254 297880.

Click here to take a look at Evertaut’s range of theatre seating which can be tailored to your requirements.

Click here to find out more about our seating refurbishment service.

What’s the Right Spec for your Executive Stadium Seats?

As football stadiums evolve the prevalence of luxury stadium seating continues to increase as more and more clubs are replacing large areas of plastic seating with this VIP style alternative to provide an upgraded match day experience for fans. No longer just a luxury of the Premiership, VIP seats can now be found in clubs across all leagues.

Whether it’s a few seats for the Chairman’s box or hundreds for a luxury spectator stand, what’s the right type of executive stadium seats for your club? Here we take a look at the options available and how clubs across the UK have utilized the different types of seats in their stadiums.

Space Efficient Luxury

The lowest cost option is a usually a similar style to the traditional plastic seat but with deep cushioned and upholstered seat and back. Evertaut’s version of this is the Club seat which is ideal for larger spectator areas where space is at a premium or for smaller clubs who are looking to add a touch of luxury on a budget.

Executive Box Seats

As executive boxes offer a premium match day experience which clients pay highly for it’s essential to ensure that the luxury provided indoors extends outside. For those VIP guests wanting to experience the stadium atmosphere, luxury seating outside the executive box allows them to do this in comfort and style.

Evertaut VIP stadium seats are situated in the viewing area outside all of Newcastle United FC’s executive boxes. These luxury chairs have a high back featuring embroidery of the club’s crest and a deep, thick cushioned seat.

Bristol Rovers FC have a row of VIP seats outside their Chairman’s suite where the club Chairman and President have their own personalised seats.

Take luxury to the next level

If you’re looking for a more superior seat than this then a higher back offers improved comfort and enhances the premium look and feel. Optional heated seat and back pads take luxury to the next level and are a very welcome feature on cold match days.

Evertaut’s Olympian chairs have a high back and deep seat with the option of heating.

Stadium seating arrangements

With a range of seat types available, many clubs choose more than one model of seat for different areas of their stadium. From premium fan zones to executive boxes to the Chairman’s suite, there’s a seat to suit each individual space.

Southport FC chose both Club and VIP seats for their new stadium. All seats were embroidered with their club crest which creates a striking image in the stadium and enhances the perception of quality.

Not just for the stadium

The use of stadium seats is not restricted to the stadium itself and many clubs and other organisations use them in areas where they want to re-create the look of a stadium.

Swansea City FC have Olympian seats installed indoors on artificial turf within their training facility.

This sports app developer wanted a football theme for their reception area and used multi-coloured Olympian seats, artificial turf and a small floodlight to create a unique look that makes an impression.

VIP seats were used for a football related promotion in pubs across the UK.

Bespoke Stadium Seats

If the standard seats on the market are not quite what you’re looking for it may be possible to create something slightly different for your club.

A bespoke hybrid of a Club seat and VIP back was made at the request of Flint Town United FC. This Cymru Alliance league club have a single row of these seats with their club crest and sponsor’s name embroidered onto seat backs.

Which stadium seats should you choose?

The type of seat you choose may be dictated by the space you have available and the numbers you need to accommodate or it could come down to budget. Even the smallest luxury stadium seat will offer a much greater level of comfort than a plastic seat and will always look more premium. An embroidered logo really does create a wow factor and is particularly recommended in VIP areas.

Below follows a summary of the points to consider when specifying stadium seats:

Budget - Are you restricted to a maximum cost per seat or is getting the desired design and style more important than cost?

Style - How premium a look do you want to create? The seat size and back height will impact greatly on this – what is the ultimate preference and what is the minimum requirement that is acceptable?

Arms/Cup holders – most cup holders form part of the seat arm so if they are required then arms will automatically be included. If the budget is tight and cup holders are not needed then opting for seats without arms is a way to reduce costs.

Personalisation – Most stadium seats can be personalized with the club logo as well as names, job titles or even sponsors’ logos. Another option for branding is removable seat covers; these are useful where sponsors may change over time or where certain advertising has to be removed for televised matches.

Comfort – A really thick seat may look more luxurious but is not necessarily more comfortable than a slimmer version. Ask any potential suppliers if you can test a sample seat before making a purchase decision to ensure you are happy with the level of comfort it provides. Heated seat and back pads controlled by a button or switch in the seat arm can be a welcome luxury on cold match days and this is worth considering if you want to offer super-premium seats.

Upholstery – most stadium seats will be upholstered in UV resistant vinyl. You can specify an exact colour using a pantone reference or RAL number but this is usually more expensive and sometimes subject to a minimum order quantity. There is a very wide range of vinyl colours on the market and it’s often possible to closely match a specific colour without the need to specially manufacture it.

Additional Options – do the seats need to be individually numbered? Are row letters required? Do seats need to be adapted to incorporate any tech, eg phone charging points, TV screens, audio commentary etc.

Choosing a supplier

There are now a wide range of stadium seats on the market including many from overseas suppliers which you can order off the shelf. A key benefit of choosing a UK supplier is that seats are usually made to order so they can be tailor made to your requirements. A UK supplier can also fit the seats for you and deal with any problems that may arise during this process as well as offering an after sales service.

Whatever type of seat you choose, replacing plastic seats with luxury stadium seats can help transform any area of your stadium.

Football Stadium Seats in the 21st Century

From basic plastic seats to luxurious arm chairs, there is now a wide range of football stadium seats on the market. Here we take a look at some of the different styles that are available.

Basic Spectator Seats

Designed to be installed in large quantities, the basic plastic, flip-up seat can be found in most football stadiums across the UK. Economy and function is the main purpose of this seat type.

Premium Spectator Seats

With a similar shape and size as traditional plastic stadium seats, these compact flip-up chairs feature deeply cushioned seats and a more comfortable, cushioned back.

Spacious VIP Chairs

The next step up is a more spacious executive seat with deeper and higher back and larger seat. Arm rests with optional cup holders are an added convenience.

Luxurious Executive Chairs

For Club executives and VIP areas, stadium seats with a higher back offer even greater support and comfort.This style of seating is often available with heated seats and backs for enhanced comfort and luxury.

Super Premium Stadium Chairs

Seats based on the design of those in a racing car are often used in dug-outs and players changing rooms as well as for club executives. These seats offer all round comfortable support and a head rest.

Key Lecture Theatre Seating Design Considerations

Lecture theatres differ from classrooms in that they usually feature tiered or sloped flooring which facilitates better sightlines for students. This auditorium style design allows each row of students to see over the head of the students in front of them, so they are able to see the lecturer and any material being presented to them. A lecture theatre with tiered seating is suitable for teaching large numbers of students whilst a classroom with seats on a level floor is more suited to groups of 30 or less.

When designing a new lecture theatre there are several key elements which need to be considered to ensure it provides the best learning environment for students –tiered flooring, seating, desks, sightlines, ventilation, lighting, acoustics, audio-visual equipment – the list goes on!

The first 4 items on this list go hand-in-hand and it will usually be your lecture theatre seating supplier who takes care of these elements. Here we take a look at the key lecture theatre seating design considerations to help you choose the right supplier and the best seating solution.

Tiered flooring

A new lecture theatre will usually be designed to the relevant proportions that can accommodate the required number of students. The tiered floor structure and seating plan will often be drawn up by your architect but this is also something many lecture theatre seating suppliers can do for you. 

The tiered floor structure will need to comply with relevant standards to ensure it is structurally sound and able to accommodate the required load bearing. It will also need to incorporate all the required under-floor services and ventilation. 

The layout of the flooring will obviously determine the layout of the seating so you need to consider whether this will work best in straight or curved rows. In very large lecture theatres, curved rows can usually provide better sightlines and prevent the need for students to sit at an angle in their seats. Tiers also need to be of sufficient height to ensure that sightlines are clear from obstruction.

Seating Plan

It’s critical the seating layout complies with current legislation with the required number of aisles, walkways and spacing in line with the quantity of seats per row – your architect or supplier should be fully conversant with the relevant fire and safety regulations in relation to this. You also need to allow access and space for wheelchair users. 

Seating Style

There are various lecture theatre seating styles available from simple, flat back and square seat designs to stylish, contoured seats with design detailing. The overall style you want to create and your available budget will help determine what options are available to you. 

Regardless of seating design, the fabric colours you choose will have a big impact on the look and feel of the lecture theatre. Bright colours can be stimulating, pale colours – calming, dark colours – studious. There are a wide range of fabrics available but it’s important to choose a hard-wearing contract fabric that is suitable for high frequency usage in demanding environments.

Workspace & Desks

There are two common styles of lecture theatre seat and desk combinations and you need to consider what’s most suitable for the subjects that will be taught in the lecture theatre. Essentially this will be determined by how much equipment students will need to use and how much space this might take up.

1. Seats with individual fixed or flip up writing tablets – suitable for note taking or laptops.

Neutral Colour Lecture Theatre Seats Incorporating Flip-Up Writing Tablets In A University Lecture Theatre

2. Seats with rows of fixed lengths of desking – suitable for use of multiple tech, books, note taking and collaboration.

Lecture Theatre Seats In Contrasting Shades Of Pink And Purple With Rows Of Fixed Desks In A University Lecture Theatre

There are also some modern alternatives such as turn and learn style chairs – individual seats which rotate 360 degrees allowing students to fully turn to collaborate with those sat behind them. Some universities have also trialled layouts with extra wide tiers which can accommodate seats and desks – essentially a traditional classroom set-up in an auditorium style.

Comfort

Whatever style of seating you opt for, it’s vital that it is comfortable when sitting for long periods of time – you want students to focus on what’s being taught, not on their discomfort which can be a huge distraction. Most reputable suppliers will be able to supply a sample seat for you to try out before committing to an order.

About Evertaut

Evertaut is a leading supplier of lecture theatre seating to UK universities, working with architects, contractors and clients to help deliver inspiring learning environments for students.