Lecture halls across campus are a reflection of the college or university’s image, so they have to look great. The last thing you want is a group of potential freshmen to peek inside a lecture hall with a poor seating structure and frustratingly outdated learning environment. The key to a good lecture hall is careful planning.

Theatre Style Concerns

If your lecture halls have the classic theatre style, you want performance space for your professors or lecturers along with comfortable audience seating. Along with that, you probably want a sophisticated look and good acoustical performance. Your best bet in those situations is to go with comfortable seating, probably plush or cushioned, along with acoustical seat pans. You may also want to add aisle lights for safety.

If, instead, you have a combined use space on your hands, you want both performances and instructional lectures to work in the area. Naturally, optimal seating capacity is going to be a key concern, but so are the sightlines for audience members. In cases like these, you probably don’t want tables, but oversized table arms, as that will not only accommodate those taking notes, but also those using laptops too. Power access will be critical in a facility like this, and you may want to go with multiple space seating options for best results.

Make It ADA Compliant

As you plan out your space, it’s essential to keep ADA requirements in mind. At least five percent of your seating area has to meet ADA guidelines. These rules also state that no less than one seating unit must meet those guidelines. Within those compliant seating areas, you need a clear space of 30” x 48” for wheelchair access. You also need knee clearance of 27” high, 30” in width, and 19” in depth. The height of the work surface (if you have one) needs to be 28” to 34”. Additionally, no less than one unit or one percent of your seating area has to be armless or have removable arms on the aisle side. Fortunately, these guidelines are pretty easily addressed, as many seating choices on the market today have either swing arms or removable units.