Making an Informed Purchasing Decision
How do you select the theater-style seating that is best for your school auditorium? Here’s the first step, according to one theater seating manufacturer.
“Measure twice...and then measure again,” says Bruce Prock, executive director of sales and marketing for Bertolini. “This refers to making sure the facility matches exactly the plans your seating is being built from.”
Manufacturers agree that when outfitting your auditorium with theater-style seating, it is important to make an informed and educated decision.
“Many companies can provide an attractive, comfortable sample, but will this sample be reflective of your future comfort?” says Peter Paffrath, eastern region sales manager for Seating Concepts.
To ensure satisfaction, Paffrath recommends to examining the inside of the seats.
“Look closely at the manufacturer’s standards,” Paffrath says.
Paffrath suggests asking the following questions from the seating manufacturers.
• Do they powder coat the inside for rust protection?
• Are the standards seamless, or do they bend and weld the metal?
• Is the seat foam cold molded?
• Is there a protective barrier between the seat springs and the foam?
• Is there a manufacturer’s warranty backing the product with a multiple-year warranty inspection policy?
“By looking at the inside,” Paffrath says, “You can ensure that your school is getting the most durable, comfortable and cost-effective seating solution.”
One thing to keep in mind is that not all benefits derived are from the seating product alone, according to Susan Link market manager at Sauder, a pews powerhouse that recently launched its own brand of theater-style seating.
According to Link, is as important to evaluate the company you select as a partner when purchasing seating that should last for years to come.
“A strong partner is trustworthy and reliable with years of expertise in understanding a church's needs and manufacturing furniture for the worship environment,” Link says.
Her recommendations include:
• Choose a company that has a successful track record of helping customers through the process of furniture selection to an on-time furniture delivery.
• Select a company that will provide you with a seating layout that maximizes your seating capacity and guides the installation of your furniture by professional and responsible installers.
• Decide on a company that will be around long after your delivery to stand behind their product and who will be available for additional furniture as you continue to grow.
Frequently Asked Questions
We asked some of the top theater seating manufacturers to tell us about the most frequently asked questions by their customers regarding theater-style seating.
Can I really afford theater-style seating?
This is one of the questions Prock hears often. He says, “Theater-style seating ranges from $80 to $120 per person. Schools that are looking for the benefits of individualized seating (better seating capacity) yet are limited on budget should consider stackable seating, which runs less than half the cost of either theater-style seating or pews.”
What are the different seat width sizes available?
Prock says, “The most commonly available are 20-inch, 21-inch, and 22-inch, and they are usually all used together in a single installation in order to have smooth aisles with row ends lining up. Naturally, the more of the smaller the widths that are used in an installation, the more chairs one can fit.
Are theater seats available with or without arms and what options are available?
Bertolini’s Prock replies, “Most theater seats are available without arms for about the same as with arms. Schools considering theater-style seating would do well to have a mix of both, preferable in sections. This gives more flexibility.”
What is a good back to back spacing and what layouts are typically available?
Frank Sumner, president of Preferred Seating, answers, “Good back-to-back spacing is 36 inches and the seat width should be 22 inches wide armrest to armrest. The common available layouts for seating arrangements are the radius, hexagon, conventional and continental seating arrangement.”
What is the most efficient and cost-effective method of providing tiered seating in balconies?
According to Frank Moson, president of Stadium Seating Enterprises, “You might want to consider a an innovative and relatively new product designed to provide a cost-effective, lightweight and time-saving alternative to traditional light-gage metal framing. The product is a prefabricated EPS Structural Foam and Steel composite stadium seating system. This product is made up of a very lightweight Extruded Polystyrene Foam as a structural fill material and 16-gage steel riser plates and connecting hardware to form the stadium seating platforms. The system is typically delivered to the project site 90 percent prefabricated with minor trimming required for the EPS and can be installed in days as opposed to weeks for the traditional method. Once put in place, a concrete topping slab is poured directly on the EPS with the steel riser plate serving as a form for each platform. EPS has been used for more than 25 years as a structural fill for road construction and as insulation in roof assemblies. It has proven itself to be extremely easy to work with and easy to install in any application.”
Theater-style seating is a great option for your auditorium, and it’s a very attractive and comfortable option. Take time and care when evaluating the various seating lines.
Product Roundup
Auditorium Stacking Chair from McCourt
The new Auditorium Stacking Chair from McCourt Manufacturing load tested to more than 1,500 pounds. It has a 2.75-inch padded seat and a 20-inch-wide seat back for full back support. This chair is not only functional, comfortable and eye-appealing—it also has an affordable price. The chair is in stock in forest green, burgundy and grape. You can also special order this chair in dusty rose, navy, beige, black and gray.
www.mccourtmfg.com
Preferred Seating
Preferred Seating offers varied seating solutions at an affordable price. Seating comes in many different designs and styles to accommodate each setting, including modern auditorium style, like the Ultima and the Stratus theater seats.
www.preferred-seating.com
Advantage by Bertolini
The Advantage is sleek and contemporary with a slim profile that will distinguish your auditorium. Seats don’t flip up, but rather remain in place. The Advantage is rock solid with no moving parts and a 10-year warranty. The seats are built in the U.S.A.
www.bertolinidirect.com
Track Seating
Track Seating is a division of Track Corporation. The company specializes in the design and manufacture of a full line of both indoor and outdoor fixed seating, which includes: auditoriums, stadiums, education, government, churches, businesses and specialty venues.
www.trackseating.com
Clarin
Since 1925, Clarin has been dedicated to providing quality seating for a wide variety of clients. Clarin has maintained a strong reputation in the industry by providing exceptional service and products to churches, arenas, convention centers and schools throughout North America. Clarin offers several lines of seating, including folding chairs, banquet chairs, stacking chairs and task chairs with a variety of upholsteries and color options to suit any needs.
www.clarinseating.com
Auditorium Seating by Allied Equipment
The value of auditorium seating is enormous when considering the important elements of seating capacity, cost, comfort and layout. The self-lifting seat mechanism provides up to 40% additional seating space. By making use of the additional seating, schools can reduce per-occupant construction costs. Auditorium seats can be installed in a radial fashion versus typical straight lines, allowing for improved sight lines from all seating areas.
www.alliedequipmentnj.com
Sedia Systems C600
Efficient and innovative, the C600’s seat and backrest closing system is especially compact, creating additional space between rows, enhancing comfort and freedom of movement while facilitating audience inflow and outflow. The C600 can be installed on flat or tiered floors and in straight or radius rows. Customization options include a wide range of upholstery colors and accessories, including tablet arms. Sedia Systems designs, manufactures and imports seating solutions for the education and contract market.
www.sediasystems.com
Irwin Seating by ChurchPlaza
Irwin Seating Company is a leading manufacturer of fixed audience seating solutions for the worship market and the education market, as well as auditoriums, lecture rooms, arenas, stadiums, performing arts centers and movie theatres. ChurchPlaza partners with Irwin Seating Company as distributor in the United States. Whether schools need new seating, restored seating, movable seating, bleachers or telescopic platforms, Irwin Seating Company has the products to fit those needs.
www.churchplaza.com
Chairtex
Chairtex’s Infinity Collection features the company’s exclusive 3.5-inch-thick seat with a rolled front edge and dual density opti-foam for maximum comfort. Options include bookracks, book and card pockets, ganging hooks and a large assortment of different frame finishes and upholstery materials.
www.chairtex.com
Church Chair
Church Chair’s large selection of chair styles with unlimited fabric choices and frame colors are sure to please. Customizing is necessary for fixed seating in many applications. Church Chair’s free design layout assistance can assist you with all space requirements, providing innovative solutions to meet today’s technological and architectural demands. Due to the fact that we are a chair manufacturer, they can shorten legs for inclined floors in addition to providing their patent pending fixed seating anchor. Church Chair seating is famous for its comfort, durability, long-lasting quality, great looks, engineering and ergonomic innovation.
www.churchchair.com
