Types Of Auditorium Seating Layouts For Schools

An auditorium is one of the main attractions in a school’s infrastructure. Schools that have the space and budget to include an auditorium never miss an opportunity to boast about it. But then, an auditorium is not just an aesthetic addition to the infrastructure. It is a room designed to host a range of audio and visual performances for students, teachers and other audiences.

A leading auditorium chair manufacturer from Tamil Nadu says there’s a lot to consider before deciding the seating arrangement in a school auditorium. The seating configuration is a major factor contributing to the audiences’ capacity, comfort and overall experience. At Inspace School Furniture, we offer a variety of ergonomic and durable auditorium chairs designed for maximum comfort.

Our blog is the perfect guide for schools looking to build the perfect auditorium for their staff and students. Here you will find all the details required- the stage, types of seating layout, and criteria to consider in auditorium seating design.

Popular Types of Auditorium Stages & Seating Layout

Before deciding the seating layout in your auditorium, you need to understand the stage layout to determine the space usage. There are three types of stages popularly used for auditoriums:

1. Proscenium stage

Considered the typical theatre stage, the proscenium stage dates back to Greek times. The “proscenium” is essentially the arched division that leads to the stage. The word itself is broken into pro and scene, meaning the “part in front of the scenery”. The proscenium stage typically includes an orchestra pit. The audience is seated directly in front of the stage to watch the action.

2. End stage

An end-stage is nothing more than a raised platform at one end of the room. It is similar to a proscenium stage but devoid of dramatic adornments like the arch and orchestra pit. The seating arrangement is similar to the proscenium stage, where the audience is seated directly in front.

3. Thrust stage

A thrust stage is exactly what its name implies. The stage “thrusts” or extends into the auditorium, and the audience are seated on the three sides- the left, right, and in the front. This stage creates a more intimate feel between the audience and the performers.

You can choose any stage type depending on your preference, budget, and available space. However, you must ensure that your seating type aligns with the layout you choose to implement. Generally, all auditorium seating arrangements are aligned in consecutive rows, circles, or arcs facing the same direction.

According to auditorium chair manufacturers in Tamil Nadu, there are five types of auditorium seating layouts. These layouts are convenient, practical, functional, and attractive. They are:

1. Continental auditorium layout

If you are looking for optimal use of space, the continental auditorium layout could be the ideal solution. This layout is what we see in amphitheatres and open-air auditoriums. All the seats are arranged in a concave shape facing the stage. Generally, there is no centre aisle. Instead, the chairs are arranged in a large bank with two aisles on the sides. This arrangement is no longer popular because people prefer easy and quick access to the aisle.

There are some historic codes in implementing the continental auditorium layout:

2. Wide fan auditorium layout

A wide fan auditorium brings the audience up close and personal and is often used for venues that require a minimum of space between the audience and the stage. However, this short distance limits the use of a stage to mainly speech-related activities. This seating arrangement works well if spectators have no difficulty seeing or hearing the performers.

3. Multiple aisle layout

Want to use your auditorium exclusively for lectures and teacher’s conferences? A multiple aisle layout is the best for such purposes because it offers the simplest setup. You can choose to have 14 or 16 chairs per row so that each student/staff has an unhindered view of the stage.

4. End-stage layout

If your auditorium is rectangular, this layout is ideal because it ensures optimal use of space with multiple aisles.

5. Arena layout

The arena layout is another idea from ancient Greek times and is closely associated with the continental layout. It offers excellent sight-line and aural quality and hence is used in auditoriums with a limited seating capacity.

Once you’ve chosen the right auditorium seating layout, you have some more criteria to consider before making your final decision.

Auditorium Seating Criteria: Useful Tips From An Auditorium Chair Manufacturer

1. Floor design

You can choose between a sloped floor or a levelled floor, although most auditoriums have raked seating. Raked seating is positioned on an upward slope and allows the entire audience to have a good view of the stage. To simplify your choice for floor design, you may also want to consider:

Pillars and other constructions that hinder the view
Tier depth and height
Number of aisles
Width of each aisle
Audiences' sightline
Slope degree

2. Audience sightline

Sightlines are the audience’s view from eye level to the point of focus on the stage. Since every single seat should have a proper sightline, you ought to consider:

3. Row spaces

Every auditorium chair manufacturer emphasizes row spacing, the clearance between each row of seats. If your audience can comfortably stretch their legs, the spacing is good.

4. Seat width

Seat width means two things:

Gap between the final seat in the row and the stairs
Distance between each person in a row

You have to consider both spaces to prevent the risk of your audience tripping between the gaps.

5. Seat types

Generally, there are two common seat types used for auditoriums. Whichever one you pick, always ensure that it is comfortable and convenient. Do not forget that a good viewing experience is all that matters for your audience. You can choose between:

6. Safety codes

All auditoriums in Tamil Nadu have safety compliance codes that include:

7. Disability compliance

All auditorium chair manufacturers design and manufacture ADA-compliant seats to ensure seating convenience for people with disabilities. ADA-compliant seats have the following features:

Choosing An Auditorium Seating Layout: Useful Tips From Auditorium Chair Manufacturers

Planning an auditorium is a job for the experts. However, you can also pitch your ideas before picking the ideal layout. Want to make some significant contributions to the planning? You will want to consider:

Number of seats required
Space requirement for each seat
Fire codes and other regulations
Back-to-back row spacing
Exit and aisle locations
Aisle width
Audience sightline

You can always reach out to our team at Inspace School Furniture. We are one of the most prominent auditorium chair manufacturers in Tamil Nadu. Each chair we create at Inspace is built for maximum seating capacity, audience sightline, and convenience. With our experience and expertise, we can help you pick the right auditorium seating choice for your school. Make the right choice with Inspace!