Carroll Seating, Author at Carroll Seating Company

Published: 29 October 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Your office space is meant to be beautiful. Everything in it should fit your needs, right down to the woodwork. If you’re looking to move your office to the next level, you probably already understand that off the shelf solutions can’t always do that. Fortunately, you can create a beautiful workspace with customized architectural woodwork.

Your Woodwork Options

Wondering exactly where the right woodwork options might change the face of your office? There are actually several places to consider. Start by rethinking your office as a whole. How efficiently are you using space right now? If it’s just not working, that might be the perfect place to start. You may also want to consider storage. If you need additional storage but you don’t want to compromise on the overall style you already have in your office, our custom architectural woodwork might be the perfect choice. From wall panels to display cases to complete reception areas, we’d be happy to help with all the right touches you may not have considered when you got started.

Be Sure to Consider the Materials

Your work is far from done once you’ve decided on the right architectural woodwork choices. Selecting the materials use will seriously impact the appearance of your project. There are so many options available today, though, that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You’ll need to consider not only the right look, but your budget as well. At the cheaper end, plastic laminate surfaces provide simple beauty and durability. They look great, yet are easy to clean and maintain. Wood veneer can get more expensive, but often offers an upscale touch that’s perfect in a number of different settings.

Contact us today, and learn more about how our carefully manufactured woodworking solutions might be the ideal touch for your offices or facilities.

Published: 22 October 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Furnishing a Library

Libraries are changing fast. What was once simply a repository for books and a mecca of study has now morphed into a center of learning, complete with a variety of multimedia aspects. Whether you’re talking about an elementary school or a university library, today’s choices have to do far more than they ever did before, and the right furniture is part of that mission. Fortunately Brodart offers a wide variety of choices to help you meet your goals.

Start With The Basics

You need the right places for your patrons to sit and study materials, and there are a number of great choices that can really open your library to new uses. Their line of lounge furniture means comfort, style, and an easy experience that is ideal throughout the library. Creative collaborative choices include the Epoch Iso Tables, that are perfect for traditional study or powering up the laptop for a complete online experience. The synchTable option also gives patrons five different mobile shaping options that can change as your library does.

Don’t forget about your computers in the equation, either. Brodart offers a range of choices that are perfect for computer use. From those with a more traditional look to surfaces with adjustable heights, a sophisticated feel, or even a creative feel that will help younger patrons go to new places with their computer use, the sky is the limit with your multimedia furniture.

Right Down to the Chairs

What they’re sitting on can make almost as much difference as where they sit. Instead of going with traditional library chairs, you may want to go with something like the unique two position chair or even the Brodart creative line that will reintroduce art and design to your library setting.

Don’t Forget those Little Touches

Your furniture choices don’t have to end at the furniture your patrons use when they study, read, or collaborate. There are lots of finishing touches that will pull the look together. When was the last time you thought about your end panels? They don’t have to be simple wood finishes. Instead, they can employ amazing designs that will have you rethinking libraries entirely. Go as loud and bright as you like, particularly if it helps to draw readers further into the shelves.

Don’t stop at the ends of the shelves, though. Think about the shelves themselves, too. If you’ve been in a book store recently, you’ve probably seen the open shelving choices so many marketers are employing. That’s also more than possible in the library setting. With choices like these, you can put your most requested materials in unique configurations that will help to ensure all of your materials shine.

Libraries are not the places they once were, and the right furniture choices can help you change that.

Published: 18 October 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

Thanks to a number of high profile incidents in recent years, new guidelines have been issued with regard to both indoor and outdoor bleachers. They must not only be more carefully constructed and installed than ever, but even existing bleachers must now be inspected annually. While these guidelines may seem a bit difficult to abide by, the reality is that fan safety has to play a role in the upcoming basketball season, and bleacher inspection should be a big part of that.

The CPSC Guidelines

The CPSC has set forth a number of guidelines to help guide bleacher inspection. Facilities now have to provide routine inspection and maintenance at least twice each year as recommended by the manufacturer. When it comes to operating bleachers, only trained personnel are allowed to open and close them. Students should certainly be kept away from them. Guard rails also have to be part of your safety plan with bleachers, as they not only help keep fans from falling, but they’re a good indicator that the bleachers are completely extended. In the event that bleachers need quite a bit of work after an annual inspection, the CPSC has said that replacement instead of retrofitting is the preferred way to go.

Who Can Handle the Inspection?

Not just anyone should handle your bi-annual bleacher inspection. Instead, you need to move forward with the help of a licensed, professional engineer, a registered architect, or a company qualified to provide bleacher products and services. They should not only carefully inspect the bleachers, but also offer you written certification that they’re fit for use.

Let Carroll Seating Company help you meet these guidelines. Contact us today to enroll in our maintenance and safety inspection program for all of your indoor and outdoor seating.

Published: 15 October 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Locker Solutions

School hallway lockers have a certain spot in everyone’s mind. It’s tough to find someone who hasn’t forgotten a combination, overstuffed a locker, or otherwise had problems. Fortunately, school lockers, like so many other things in life, aren’t what they used to be. The options today are tremendous, and they may just change the way you think about lockers.

Start By Thinking Durability

If you want to redesign the locker atmosphere in your school, it starts with some thoughts of durability. After all, lockers in a corridor have lots of demands put on them day after day. They have to hold up with regular use, and they’re often abused as well. What’s more, though, is that they need to be simple to maintain while still fitting in with the overall design scheme.

Material Options

School lockers were almost exclusively metal at one time, and while those are still widely available, in more colors than ever before, there are lots of other choices on the table now too. Wood is a great choice, though a bit pricey. In a private school environment, it can give you a sophisticated look and feel. If you want to go a bit greener with your locker design, go with those made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). They’re fire code approved, and moisture can’t penetrate them, which means it’s easy to remove stains and spills. What’s more, though, is that the maintenance costs with this choice are almost nonexistent.

Think about Location

Even the best locker choices can be placed in environments that just aren’t conducive to building the right learning community, so thinking about where you actually put the lockers is essential. Integrate it into the environment around it. Consider putting them in small clusters with comfortable study-style seating around them to help with study seating. You may even want to better define areas with distinct carpeting, lower ceilings, and even ensuring they’re out of the traffic flow.

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to school lockers, but one thing’s for certain – they don’t have to be the noisy traffic hazard they’ve always been.

Published: 9 October 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

Designing the ideal lab to meet the needs of everyone on your team can be difficult, and a key factor is getting the right casework from the outset. One of the biggest names in the market today is Campbell Rhea, and for good reason. With lots of options available, you’ll get the functionality you need combined with the look you want.

Workspace Choices

As you explore what your ideal workspace might look like, here are a few you may want to consider.

Vertex Table: Constructed of powder coated 14-gauge steel tubing, this is perfect in a lab that doubles as a teaching environment. It comes with optional casters, and modesty panels that help to enclose the lift mechanism. Maximum lift capacity here is 500 pounds, and it’s adjustable between 30” and 41”, making it ADA compliant. It comes with four bag hooks, a rod storage area, and an electric outlet and data port raceway.
Magnetar: This fully adjustable work center is great for lab or lecture functioning. It offers counter space for four as well as computer access. The work center station has a rotating monitor enclosure. It also comes with a metal storage cabinet with a pull out shelf that’s ideal for the CPU and a printer. The worktop can be adjusted from 30” to 36” while the sink cabinet sits at 34” and comes with cold water and gas fixtures, electrical receptacles, and a drop in sink.
Quantum Command Center: This is the ultimate workspace, as it’s as practical and functional as it is convenient. It’s also packed with storage. It has two double-faced storage cupboards that are accessible from both sides. The standard cupboards come with adjustable shelves and the end cabinets have bottom-mounted pullouts. The two end cabinets can be fitted with a variety of shelving options, including a lazy susan. The knee space has a keyboard pullout shelf, and you’ll find pop-up data ports and electrical outlets across the countertop.

Choosing Your Work Surface

While there are a variety of different work surfaces available too, one of the most popular new choices is granite. A good choice in residential settings for years because of its durability, it also works well in the lab setting. It’s resistant to acids and chemicals, and it’s almost impossible to scratch. What’s more, though, is that it won’t stain or blemish the way other materials do. It doesn’t burn or melt in the event of high temperatures and it won’t harbor bacteria or radon. It’s even available in different colors to help match your current casework.

Selecting the ideal casework for your lab means a beautiful work space that everyone can enjoy. Find the perfect pieces before you make your decision.

Published: 2 October 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

In an outdoor environment, even the best seating choices can wear down over time. Wonder how to make the most of your budget? Here are a few options you may want to consider.

Bleachers or Fixed Seating?

The first choice you have to make is whether you want to go with bleachers or fixed seating. While both have their benefits, the real dictator of which is right for your environment is going to depend on your available space. Fixed seating is durable and comfortable and very able to withstand the elements with the right coating, but it may not fit in every stadium. Careful measurement will be key. Bleacher seating can be far more space effective in some cases.

The Right Material

The type of seating isn’t half as important in terms of durability as the material your seating choice is constructed from. You have two basic options – aluminum and a surface coated in vinyl. Both are very durable when it comes to weathering, but there are a few things you may want to be aware of as you make your decision. Aluminum won’t rust or corrode, so it tends to last a bit longer than vinyl coated choices, but there’s one big drawback – the sun. In the summer heat, aluminum bleachers can get very hot, forcing your spectators to make other choices when it comes to seating. Vinyl clad seats will last almost as long, but they’re cooler even in the heat of the summer and quite a bit more comfortable too.

Outdoor environments have it much harder than indoor arenas when it comes to seating, but once you make the right choice, you’re certain to enjoy the roar of the crowd in the middle of a great game.

Published: 24 September 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Lecture and Theater Seating

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

Lecture-Hall-Seating-Carroll-Seating

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.

Published: 18 September 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Seating Solutions

Event facilities like yours have to be as flexible as possible. While you may be booked through one month with games, another month may be solid with lectures. Still another month may demand space for job fairs. No matter what kinds of events you hold on a routine basis, though, your best bet is to have good temporary seating available, and Hussey has an amazing line to meet your needs.

Portable Seating 4000 Series

Hussy-portable-seating

If you’re looking for the perfect way to get that custom look that’s as flexible as your schedule is, this is certainly the way to go. There are lots of options within this line including padded backs, padded and foam seats, vinyl and embossed panels on the back of seats, logo choices, permanent armrests, detachable arms, and ganging capabilities. There are also a variety of add-on choices like weather fighter treatments for those outdoor events, K-Braces for seat storage, frame trims, slip covers for advertising, and even auto uplift features to help keep your rows clear. The entire line is made to give you the sophistication you need while still recognizing how essential portability can be.

Telescopic Seating

As great as portable seating is in many cases, telescopic seating often meets the needs of big event facilities too. When you think of telescopic seating, though, don’t just think of hard wooden bleachers in overcrowded high school gyms. Today’s choices are simply amazing. Whether you choose to go with metro style chairs, available both with and without upholstery, or classic, yet durable wood seating, the choices you find today can be contoured to fit your needs. What’s more, though, is that they give you recoverable space both in front of and behind the bleacher units, ideal for almost any activity. You can even add handrails, back rests, seat spacers, and media platforms. Need to take things to another level? Go with Power Glide choices to help you open and close your bleacher at the touch of a button. Perhaps one of the best options available is the ability to open and close a single row with some products, which means you only pull out the space you need.

Keeping your event facility as flexible as possible means more bookings every day, and the best way to do that is with great portable seating choices.

Published: 3 September 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

Whether you’re designing a new facility or you simply need to make a chance to what you have, selecting outdoor bleacher seating can be difficult. Wondering exactly what you need to consider before you make your choice? Here are a few aspects to think about.

Seating Capacity – Easily one of the most important factors in your decision will be how many people you need to seat. To decide, think about your biggest crowd. While that massive number may not happen during every single game or event, it’s always nice to have a bit more space than you need.
Available Space – While you may want plenty of seating options for your fans or guests, the amount of space you have is key to the outdoor bleacher seating you actually order. You’ll need to have the area professionally measured and evaluated to make certain not only that you have the right amount of space, but also that the space you have is suitable for the type of seating you select. Safety is important, and not all areas are suitable for your seating choices.
Sightlines – You want your fans and guests to be able to see to the stage or the field. Maintaining the right sightlines can be difficult, particularly if you don’t get the right seating choice.

It can be tough to keep everything in mind as you work to find the right outdoor bleacher seating to meet your needs. Fortunately, Carroll Seating Company can help. With project managers who will do everything from determine the necessary seating capacity to meet your needs to help you decide what space is usable to ensuring your audience’s sightlines are maintained at all times, you’ll get top notch service as well as a phenomenal product that will last for years to come.

Published: 27 August 2013

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: School seating

Elementary school classrooms have to be warm, safe environments. While the teacher can do quite a bit to make that possible with the right wall decorations and layout, the actual seating choices have just as much to do with it. Here are a few things to consider as you purchase new elementary school seating.

Seat Height: Not every seat is going to work well for all students. Chairs that are too little can be very distracting to kids. Those that are too big can be tough for little ones to get in and out of. Getting the perfect height is essential for a solid learning experience. Students ages five and under need seven to twelve inch seats. Those in lower elementary need twelve to fifteen inch seats. Generally those in upper elementary need something in the fifteen to seventeen inch range.
Seat Material: Most elementary seating choices are available in softer plastic, harder plastic, or wood. The softer plastic choices are easy for younger kids to move, and they’re fairly inexpensive as well. The problem, though, is that they’re not very durable. Harder plastic choices are more durable, but they’re a little more expensive. Wood looks best in the classroom setting, and they’re very durable, but they can be very costly.
Seat Style: You have to carefully think about what students might be doing in the classroom before you choose the right seating style. In some cases, you may want seating on wheels. Computer labs and science labs are most often where you see wheeled seating. Special education rooms may also benefit from some wheeled seating options. Gliders are another good choice. They work well on carpet, but plastic ones also work well on harder floors. Sled bases are also a good choice. They can move well on carpets, too.
Maneuverability: How often do the chairs you’re considering need to move? If you need more flexibility out of your seating choice, you may want to consider stackable chair options. You can choose from one or two piece options, and it often means that you can store the chairs out of the way when you simply want to do more with the area.

Elementary school seating is tough to pin down, but there are lots of different ways to create the perfect environment to meet the needs of your students. Find the perfect consultant to help make your needs a reality today.