Lecture theater seating is designed to maximize the number of bodies that can be placed in a lecture hall at one time. These seating systems may be called lecture theater seating, theater seating, arena seating, stadium seating, or seat seating by the companies that supply them.
Lecture theater seating is commonly set up where each row of seats is approximately seven inches higher than the row of seats before it. This gradual rise in seating heights allows the people in the row behind the first row to be able to see the center focal point that is located in the front of the room.
Lecture theater seating usually has seats that can be folded up to allow the passage aisle to be wider. This wider area between the backs of one row and the seat of another row makes the area easy to travel and easy to clean.
This type of seating is built on support beams that are connected to the floor with long bolts. The seating system is designed to not be moved once it is installed, and to not be capable of tipping backwards. These re safety measures that make the system very desirable.
Most lecture halls are in learning institutions like colleges, although there are a few of them in the private sector. A lecture hall is designed with a large area in the front of the room where the speaker will stand at a podium. Behind the speaker will be a wall where slides can be shown and where there is a chalk board to allow the speaker to write things down and make their point clear to the audience.
The seating in these rooms is generally arranged in sections that have aisles running up their length. This makes it easier to get people in and out of the seats located in the middle of the row. The divided sections will provide more aisle seats to the audience.
Many of the lecture halls have chairs with arms on them so that the audience can rest more comfortably in their seats. The arms also provide the audience with places to prop their notebooks they are making notes in. Some of the seating systems used in these halls will have desks in front of them for the purpose of note takes, but some of them do not.
The seats in these systems are almost always cushioned so that the audience remains more comfortable. A cushioned seat allows the person to sit for longer periods of time without getting up. Since the average lecture is between forty five minutes and one hour the more comfortable the person is in the chair the more attention they will pay to the speaker.
A great deal of thought and consideration goes into the design and installation of these seating systems. Even the color the seats are strategically done to help reduce stains and create a more soothing atmosphere for the audience.