Blog - Page 14 of 29 - Carroll Seating Company

Published: 14 July 2015

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Categories: Furnishing a Library

Your school library isn’t supposed to be a dusty collection of books no one checks out. The entire library experience has changed as fast as technology has, and we can help you update your library and give it the face lift you need.

A Few Great Ideas

Small Group Workspace – If you haven’t yet designed a spot for small groups to work withing your library, it’s certainly time. Collaborative learning is very much the focus today, and including a space where groups can get together and create that next big project is an absolute must.

Creative Play Space – If your library is designed for smaller children, it needs to include creative play space. Here, brightly colored walls are a must, as are smaller bookshelves and lots of table space complete with games, puzzles, and more to help promote those important pre-reading skills that will turn students into lifelong readers in the future.

Tech Central – While students still rely on printed texts for some things, the chances are good that they want access to e-readers and more while they’re in the library, so build in a space to allow them to use that tech. You’ll want to ensure you’re a wi-fi hotspot, and you may also want to build in charging ports here and there so students can plug in when the juice is running a bit low.

Why Carroll Seating Company?

We’ve been working with schools just like yours for more than six decades, developing beautiful spaces that help enhance student learning. We carry a complete line of shelving and furniture options for libraries of all shapes and sizes, from those for very young preschoolers to those designed for the heaviest academic environments. We’re continually working to include the right pieces for better functionality.

The real difference with Carroll Seating Company, though, is that we work with you to meet your needs. From the moment you first call, you’ll be working with an individual project manager, ready to help you choose your equipment and get it installed. We also have add-on services you’ll love, including custom casework that will help your environment promote reading and research in a way you never thought possible.

To learn more about what we can do for your library, contact us today by calling 847-434-0909 to get started or visit us online to learn more.

Published: 8 July 2015

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

The demands on student housing are getting more complex by the year. Whether on the campus of a boarding school, a college, or a university, student housing has to be virtually amazing to even begin to rank among the best. If you’re like many campuses, you’re probably wondering what you can do to amp up your offerings. Let us help.

The Experienced Choice

Carroll Seating Company has been working with campuses like yours for decades, creating architecturally stunning casework in a variety of different settings that helps define a space. From design to installation, we meet the needs of our clients again and again. When you contact us, you’ll work one on one with your personal project manager to ensure your dorms are not only completed in time for the students to start the fall term, but also to help make certain you’re getting the stunning design you wanted from the outset. With the right materials at the right price, there simply is no better choice than Carroll Seating Company for your dorm casework.

A Few Options to Consider

As you think toward that new dorm update, there are a few things you might want to include for your students to enjoy this fall.

Comfortable Lounge Spaces – These always rank well with students, as they don’t just want the spaces where they sleep to be great, but they want the spaces where downtime happens most to be plentiful and ready to serve. Consider incorporating a few of these on every floor.
Reading Rooms – Few schools would be complete without excellent places to study, and incorporating soundproofed reading rooms that allow students to get at least a little studying done on campus is an absolute must.
In Room Shelving – Students have lots of stuff to store, so consider building in a variety of shelving options. From cubbies that fit just under beds to shelves around the beds and closets, the more space you can include, the better students will feel about staying in your dorms.

To learn more about how we can help your student housing go from blah to tweeted about regularly, contact us today. We’ll get that wow factor you’re looking for from your students. Call us today at 816-471-2929 or visit us online today.

Published: 30 June 2015

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Categories: Cafeteria and Food Court Seating

Whether you are preparing to re-outfit a school cafeteria, the staff kitchen in an office building, or a large scale eating area of a hospital, you have to consider many different variables in order to make the wisest selections for those you intend to serve.

Keeping Things Clean One of the biggest concerns that we have expressed to us over and over again, as clients prepare to renovate eating spaces, is cleanliness. After all, one wants to be sure that the investment made isn’t going to be destroyed by the hundreds of hands and mouths that will be hovering about their surfaces. Carroll Seating has made an effort to choose the sleekest, harder surfaces, in order to ensure that you, the end user, are able to quickly and efficiently wipe them down at the end of the day.

Ensuring Comfort A clean surface is great, but when people are forced to essentially sit on top of each other, or must hunch over in order to reach the meal before them, the experience is far from enjoyable. It is important to get enough seating to accommodate the rush that will come through at the busiest part of the day. Furthermore, be sure that you carefully look at the seating height, to be sure that a person will be a comfortable level in comparison with the table top.

Maximizing Space While you don’t want people sitting on top of each other, and you want to be sure that you have enough seating for rush hour, you also don’t want to overcrowd the area, so people aren’t able to easily navigate through the room. Rather than cutting back on seating, consider the various table options and how those can be mixed and matched to maximize the space.

Maneuverability Carroll Seating has served many clients who are determined to have their furniture bolted to the floor, but before you make the decision to invest in that sort of permanent arrangement, carefully consider the space. Will this area ever be needed for some other type of function? For instance, school cafeterias can often multifunction, providing space for after school activities, special gatherings, or summer planning sessions. It is often nice to be able to fold up tables, stack chairs, and clear the area so it can be used for these others reasons. Many of the seating options are built to stay put, so there is no worry about a chair being picked up, moved or abused. Yet, these same pieces can be easily folded and maneuvered up against a wall or into storage, if the space has to be temporarily reconfigured.

Durability And, last, but certainly not least, when it comes to selecting new cafeteria furniture is the durability factor. The longevity of a piece is important when it comes to protecting the bottom line. While you can get very cheap furniture pieces, it is often worth investing a little more up front. There are many options that will last decades with very little care, which means that this one time investment can save you a great deal over the long term.

Carroll Seating, located in Kansas City, KS has been specializing in customized cafeterias for over 60 years. To get started, call us today at 816-471-2929 or visit us online at https://www.carrollseating.com//cafeteria-seating/

Published: 25 June 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

How important are bleachers at sporting events? Just as the members of The Cubs baseball organization, which has recently seen the opening of a large section of renovated bleachers. The left and center field sections had been closed to the public, while crews worked to install the new and improved seating. Now, though, there is more seating, upgraded concession areas, plus additional standing-room only areas. The team and the Wrigley Field staff are thrilled, as is the public, who were quick to fill in the new sections of bleachers. There will even be a special event, coming soon, to celebrate the new improvements.

While it might not be necessary to go through such fanfare over new bleachers on a school field, bleachers are generally a welcomed addition to such atmospheres. In fact, some schools have so fully embraced the idea of incorporating new seating that they have crafted community building events around the installations. Mercer is a school in Michigan, and there you will currently find students of the technological education classes busy installing new bleachers. The seating will surround the local baseball field, and will provide spectators will a great view of the games. The town’s park committee purchased bleacher kits, which must be assembled. In exchange for the students’ labor, the school will receive new tools for future projects like this one. More importantly, the supervisors hope that the effort will instill community spirit in the students.

The truth is, that is what bleachers do – they bring communities together. As the fans cheer on sons, daughters, brothers, grandkids, and friends, they are bonding with each other over the game. All of that takes place in the bleachers. It is when the seating cannot accommodate the crowds, or when the bleacher systems are too old to be deemed safe by spectators that the sport loses some of its appeal. If that sounds familiar, then perhaps it is time for your organization to follow in the footsteps of Wrigley Field… or, at least, consider a project like that taking place in Michigan.

At Carroll Seating Company, we’ll work with you on a seating solution tailored to your space. Contact us to learn more about Hussey Bleacher Systems for your next project. To find out more, call us at 847-434-0909 or visit us online.

Published: 17 June 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

The National Real Estate Investor online publication recently released a story about the increasing interest in student housing. There has been a lot of interest in student housing over the past twelve months or more. Why? People are seeing the economy improving, but interest rates remain low. While they can’t get a big return on more traditional investments, these people are finding that they can get big turnaround on their money when they buy properties and rent it out to students.

A long list of new investors have also joined the bidding for student housing assets, including high-net worth individuals, private equity fund managers and institutional investors… The total number of transactions grew slightly and the average sales price per bed also grew by about $3,000.

So, what does this mean for traditional student housing operations? It means that you have to step up your game to continue competing with those who are new to the game. New buyers tend to sink money into the off-campus properties at the start, to make them as attractive as possible. Students like the luxuries that come with houses and apartments that are off-campus, and which rise above the uniform dorm room look.

If you want to continue to compete effectively, then you need to design rooms that are inviting to a very creative generation – one that is used to customizability and one that embraces individuality. Built-in furniture isn’t against the rules, but it should have a modern feel with plenty of space for personalization. At Carroll Seating, we allow you to start the trend of customization. Create the layouts, select the pieces that you think will best accommodate the incoming students and we can make that happen. Wardrobes, dresser systems, and desks with plenty of overhead storage, are just a few of the pieces that can make your rooms attractive enough to compete with the new student housing investors. At Carroll Seating we have the knowledge and expertise to customize your student housing built-ins. To find out more, call us at 816-471-2929 or visit us online.

Published: 10 June 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Locker Solutions

Children today have a lot of very valuable possessions that they carry with them. With brand name sneakers costing upwards of $150 per pair, jeans at $65, and jackets even more costly, just the outfit that he or she changes out of it worth a great deal. However, when one also adds in the value of the smartphone, mini tablet, laptop, and other such belongings found in his or her backpack, the price tag on the contents within each full locker skyrockets. The kids want to know that their belongings are safe, and those of lesser morals are obviously tempted.

The trouble is that we don’t want our kids to worry about things like phones and other such belongings when they are changing for physical education or for an athletic practice. We are trying to encourage kids to set aside thoughts of technology, in order to work more physical activity into their day-to-day lives.

Therefore, it is important to provide them a safe place to store their favorite pair of shoes and that very expensive new cell. There are a few things to keep in mind as you design a new locker room.

While security cameras can be good at deterring some thieves, the majority will quickly learn where they are located and how to get what they want without being detected. Furthermore, there is an issue of privacy when it comes to cameras, which discourages their use in areas where students may be changing. That being said, cameras are a good tool, but shouldn’t be relied on as the only wall of defense.
Coded entries are generally considered the best approach to security. Asking students to remember to bring a padlock with them each and every time is a bit much. For this reason, many facilities will choose built-in, coded locks. These lockers are built to automatically lock when closed, which means that no one has to remember to use a padlock.

Carroll Seating can accommodate all of your locker room needs, so you can provide a clean, inviting, and, most importantly, safe place for students to transition into the physically active parts of the day. Give us a call at 847-434-0909 to order your system or visit us online for more information.

Published: 2 June 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Lecture and Theater Seating

The Lyons Township High School auditorium was in need of updating. School administration hired general contractor Henry Bros Co. for a major school renovation that involved the auditorium, school cafeterias, locker rooms and utility areas. Henry Bros Co. worked with the design team at Carroll Seating to plan a full update their auditorium. Originally built in 1929, the building faced many challenges including tricky sloping.

Here is the auditorium before:

When all options were discussed, the design team chose Hussey’s Quattro Seats. The modular Quattro Collection is built on four superb core styles, each featuring a chair back created for a distinct aesthetic and practical effect. The classic series was chosen for its timeless style, great look and durable polymer outer panel.

Here is a photo after the Carroll Seating installation:

The team at Carroll Seating was pleased with the finished outcome of this auditorium that now seats over 400 patrons. The Carroll Seating team hopes that Lyons Township High School will enjoy it for many school years to come. For more information about this auditorium project, please visit the Carroll Seating website or call us in Elk Grove, IL at 847-434-0909.

Published: 27 May 2015

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Categories: Gym and Sports Equipment

Jazzing up your gym is with customized products is an important part of crafting your school’s personality. It can increase school spirit, build community pride and really fire up your fans. The right products will improve safety by blocking access to dangerous areas as well as dressing up your bleachers. You can use a custom accessory package to highlight your sponsors so it might even amp up your fundraising efforts too.

A customized gym is not limited to a painted floor. You can take your team logo and mascot from the floor, up the walls, across the bleachers and all the way to the ceiling. Here are just a few options that could take your space from a drab basic gym to a custom coliseum.

If your gym is a little behind the times and needs a total redo, a total custom package is what you need. This is a top to bottom makeover with all the bells and whistles. This graphics package will make an impression on all of your guests, no doubt about it! Imagine an extreme bleacher logo stretching across your bleachers, open or closed. From the stair risers to the courtside seats, to the bleachers, rails and media platform, every surface can be branded with custom colors and logos.

Not every space needs the head to toe makeover; some just need a little something extra. The impact of step signs and graphic courtside seat graphics shouldn’t be overlooked nor underestimated. This is where the eyes of your fans and visitors will land most often so they’re a great place for a little update. During the game, all eyes are on the court. It’s only natural to dress that area well and the courtside strip is too often ignored.

All eyes fall on the stair risers, too. With each step you can emphasize what means most to your team and school. Your risers could list your core values, display your team’s name or add punch to your spirit message. Your aisles can do more than just carry feet; they can carry your message.

Those same messages can also help protect your fans and students. The ends of your bleachers can pose a danger. It’s an area that often falls victim to vandalism as well. No one of any age should be able to easily access this area when the bleachers are out. An easy to install safety end closure curtain can secure this spot with a sense of style. They attach permanently on old or new bleachers and could serve as a very visible “billboard” for major sponsors.

For the ultimate in game side seating comfort, a seat back is just the thing. Since they back your team, treat your season ticket holders or boosters to a little backing of their own. Courtside seating modules, spacers and backrests can be combined to support your fans as much as they support you. They are ergonomically designed and provide excellent mid-back support. Spacers provide about 25% more personal space for your guests and that will get people talking. You can even add cup holders to cut back on spills and make postgame clean-up less of a chore.

Enhancing your courts makes a difference. It’s time to take a look at the products that are truly game-changers.

Published: 19 May 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: School seating

The best school computer desks are those that facilitate learning and help the students and teacher connect with technology. They need to function and they need to last, even under the rigorous conditions of hours of use. A little form should follow the function, too. Style shouldn’t be ignored just because something is used in school.

The computer desk is a relative newcomer to the school supplies list. Its role has evolved and changed so much in the short time it’s been a “must have” item for most schools. Just a few years ago a computer desk was located in a computer lab and used only for learning the basics of computing. Ethernet connections dictated desk placement and the goal seemed to be to cram as many screens into one room as one could. Student interaction wasn’t even a consideration. Now that technology has been integrated into the entire school day and distance learning has become a viable choice, the needs have changed and the furnishings need to follow.

Now it’s possible to create an engaging, interactive and dynamic learning space where technology is naturally integrated into the environment. Don’t assume you have to follow the old rules. You have a lot of choices now.

Consider how you want your space to function and let the design flow from there. Do you need a place where students can interact and collaborate? Do you need a multimedia display to be the focus? You can split a large room into dedicated zones to serve many needs or focus on a single function. The choices you make will determine the school computer desks you need to purchase.

Once you’ve decided on the function, a little style can be added to the mix. We have custom colors and bold designs that make learning fun. Get creative with your school computer desks and you’ll see that creativity reflected in your students. Our reliable brands and top-notch service will help your vision come to light.

There are a lot of decisions to be made when it comes to choosing the best school computer desks. You’ll need more than a catalog as a guide. Two of the best things you can have is a trained, educated and experienced consultant and a long-standing company with a reputation for excellence.

Carroll Seating has been in business since 1950, working with just like yours. Our consultants are knowledgeable and understand how to fit all your needs while maximizing your budget. We’ll make a great team!

Published: 13 May 2015

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Furnishing a Library

The library isn’t the stodgy, silent tomb that it used to be. Modern libraries are interesting spaces where technology and textbooks live side by side. And they do it in style.

You don’t just go to a library to pick a book and leave, at least not anymore. They are places where study groups meet, tutors assist and yes, we still get books there too. Furnishings in a modern library need to reflect the changing usage of this important school or community hub.

There are many pieces that a modern library can include but some of the basics will always be bookcases, tables and chairs. These serviceable items don’t have to look basic to fulfill their purpose, however. They can create a space that’s up-to-date and in style whether you want a trendy vibe or a classic feel. Our catalog covers it all.

Bookcases

Bookcases are the workhorses of the library. They need to be sturdy and well-balanced with excellent ease of access. They don’t have to be behemoths weighed in tonnage to serve these purposes. Modular units give you flexibility within your space as well as durability and functionality.

Tables

You need table but they don’t all need to look alike, do they? You’ve got plenty of options to create custom spaces. You can have large surfaces for project work, laptops and research materials but you can add smaller tables for resting a volume or two. You might even like a booth with curved banquette seating for collaborative spaces that encourage interaction (but still limit the noise).

Chairs

Chairs take as many forms as tables! Whether you need task chairs for quick uses or a cozy spot for a longer sit-down, we’ve got all the options covered. Timeless, durable and comfortable, our brands bring everything you need to the table. Modern fabrics and construction materials make keeping your chairs clean so much easier that in the past and they last for years, despite frequent wear.

Balancing aesthetics and functionality is a delicate endeavor. You’ll probably need some help. Depend on Carroll Seating’s decades of experience to guide your choices. Trained consultants with a high degree of product knowledge make all the difference in the decision-making process. We’ve been doing this since 1950 so we’ve got all the know-how you’ll need to get your library ready for guests.

Whether you’ve got a renovation or a brand new space, making your library modern will make it more useful. Create a space that will get people talking (quietly).