Published: 30 September 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Locker Solutions

Smaller budget this year? You’re not alone. Schools across the nation are struggling as the belt just keeps tightening, but with the population of your school on the increase, finding lockers for everyone is a lot harder than it used to be. These tips can help.

Think Small: Sure, you’d love for every single student in your building to have a full locker, but if you have a range of ages, younger students may not need lockers that are quite as large. If you assign older students your full size lockers and give your younger population double or even triple tier lockers, you get the space you need without the added cost of full size lockers for everyone. If you’ve recently moved to fully electronic textbooks, too, you can certainly assign students smaller lockers with ease, as the need to store personal belongings may be the only one they have while they’re on campus.
Think Outside the Box: Lockers aren’t all what they used to be. With new materials choices debuting all of the time, you may find that the traditional metal locker your building is so used to is no longer a necessity. Searching for the best option to meet your needs in terms of durability and cost at the same time may help you decide on a different material choice entirely.
Think Simple: All of those little add-ons can really amp up the price of your lockers. Coat hooks, shelves, even built in locks may mean you’re paying more than you should, so make sure you don’t accessorize (much).

To learn more about how we can help you get the affordable, durable hallway lockers you want for your school, take a moment to contact us today. With lots of options on the table, we’ll help you find a choice that’s as beautiful as it is budget-friendly.

Published: 23 September 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

For multipurpose indoor athletic venues like junior high school gyms, a school needs maximum flexibility. That’s why when working with Mahomet Junior High, the design team at Carroll Seating suggested retractable telescopic bleachers.

These new telescopic bleachers have seating for 289 people. The Administrators at Mahomet wanted some custom options for their gym seating. Their colors are blue and orange and the designers chose to compliment the colors of the gym floor by making the bleacher seats blue and railing orange. The designers at Carroll Seating added a Flex-Row into the seating layout that keeps this indoor gymnasium accessible and in ADA compliance. Finally, they added 10 Courtside seats. These plastic foldable chairs will be used by the teams and assemblies should extra portable seats be required.

These Hussey Maxam bleachers are extremely safe in that attach to their indoor gymnasium wall in three to 30-tier banks. There is a pendant power control that allows operators to retract the bleachers quickly. The retractable gymnasium seating is then locked and braced by carefully designed, rigorously tested seating supports and safety mechanisms that secure bleacher walking and seating surfaces. These Hussey Maxam Seats are also backed by a limited lifetime warranty and Carroll Seating’s 5-year warranty.

The team at Carroll Seating was excited to work on this project with the Mahomet Junior High and hopes they enjoy their new telescopic bleachers for many years to come. For more information about this gymnasium project, please visit the Carroll Seating website or call us in Elk Grove, IL at 847-434-0909.

Published: 19 September 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

The right solutions. It’s what every lab in the country wants, but without the right casework, it just isn’t possible. Enter Jamestown Metal Products, today’s premier creator of the steel furniture solutions labs need the most right now. Serving all markets, they have more casework, accessories, and full lab solutions than many others, and they’ve proven themselves to be a trustworthy partner to some very big projects.

A Brief Overview

With a motto like “Trust as Strong as Steel,” this is certainly one company that seems to place service over everything else. They make some of the best steel and stainless steel casework, cabinets, and fume hoods for a variety of applications on a worldwide basis. Their long standing relationships with customers around the world speak to the high level of quality employed by this company. Big contracts with the US government, prestigious universities, and even the White House kitchen have made Jamestown Metal what it is today.

What’s Available Now?

Labs, like many spaces today, are changing fast. The need for casework to change with them is ever present, and Jamestown Metal has met that challenge with style. These days they work to create pieces that work with unique spaces and the needs of today’s labs. They can even help with product conceptualization and prototyping to ensure it’s ideal.

Even in labs where more standard options are needed, Jamestown works hard to make certain the need is met. Lots of finish options to plenty of mobile work tables and a number of work surface options, the company is continually working to innovate the products you need most on an everyday level.

To make the most of your lab, it only takes a call to a certified Jamestown Metal Products dealer like us to ensure you get exactly what you need.

Published: 16 September 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Seating Solutions

How Can You Spice Up Your Food Court? Think Tables!

Looking to create a stronger food court area? Whether you’re in a school setting, a large office complex, or a retail location, the food court can be the center of what you do, but sometimes you need a little spice to create that perfect atmosphere, and believe it or not, the tables you choose actually have an impact. Here are a few aspects you may want to consider.

Height: Not all tables have to be the same height. In fact, a mix of traditional tables and bar height tables may actually help to make your space a bit more interesting. It offers those sitting in the area added choices, creating an area they may come back to again with varied groups of people.
Size: The physical size of the tables in your food court area matters as well, particularly if you’re in an office complex or a school setting where very large groups of individuals may want to sit together on a routine basis while in the area. Keep in mind, though, that you don’t necessarily want to create a huge family size area. It’s essential to have spaces for both small and large groups alike.
Color: Sticking with that wood finish isn’t any fun! Food court tables can not only come in all shapes and sizes, but in lots of different colors as well. Imagine spicing up the school cafeteria with tables meant to match the school colors. From bright yellows to dark burgundys, if you can dream it up, the chances are good you can get a table to match. You may even be able to go with more creative options like customized table tops to reflect your company logo.
Durability: Remember that while the appearance itself is certainly going to be an important addition to your food court, you should always shop for options that offer you a higher level of durability so you’re not replacing your new tables in just a matter of months.

Replacing your current set up with newer tables is certain to have an impact on your current food court. Contact us today to learn more.

Published: 9 September 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Furnishing a Library

Now more than ever before, college libraries have a challenge ahead of them. The challenge is technology, so while college students will likely always need the study space the library provides, they need the physical resources less and less all of the time thanks to the extensive ability to obtain many of these same resources online. Traditional study carrels and areas just don’t work for today’s students. A concept that might? One borrowed from the business world called hoteling or hot desking.

What Is It?

The idea is a fairly simple one. Because many employees are on the run these days to customers, sales meetings, or other offices, the desk space remains unused much of the time. As a result, freeing some of that up, and thus needing smaller work areas overall, is finally possible. Thus the idea of hoteling was born. The concept is this – when an employee is going to need a workspace, he calls ahead to the concierge (or office manager, as the case may be) to reserve a desk space. That desk space is then open for him on a given day at a given time, and he has the space he needs to work.

The idea is pretty easily transferable to college libraries, though you may need to put some policies in place to make it work well. There are several software solutions on the market today to help make it work well from an administration standpoint. Students, particularly on those campuses where many students commute or live off-campus, reserve a great workstation for a period of time. Libraries are sure their workstations are put to good use, and students aren’t trying to study in the noise of the food court.

Making It Work

If hoteling might be a good choice for your library, the essential factor will be the workspace itself. You have to have amazing casework to play this game. Students aren’t going to want to reserve a space if it isn’t comfortable and useful, so much thought has to go into the areas themselves. Keep in mind that you probably don’t want to give your entire library over to the concept, but dedicating a portion to the space is going to do excellent things for both your library and the students themselves. The work areas need to fulfill the simple needs of students who wish to study or complete assignments. An attractive work surface is a given, but you should also ensure students have access to power, maybe even a variety of available charging cords for various devices. Beautify it with some task lighting, and add some functionality with a coat hook or even a trash can. All of these things are simple to accomplish, but they’ll make these hoteling spaces amazing for student use.

Not all business concepts have a place in education, but this is one that certainly does.

Published: 2 September 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Lecture and Theater Seating

Dirksen Junior High in Joilet, IL had a 220 seat auditorium that was in need of updating. They contacted the design team at Carroll Seating to work with them over the summer to update their auditorium with new maintenance free seating and increase seating if room allowed. Carroll Seating was excited to take on this project. Here is the auditorium before:

When all options were discussed, the design team chose Camatic’s Quantum Seats. These seats were designed in consultation with leading ergonomists and are arguably the most comfortable seat of its kind in existence. This popular chair is also extremely durable and easy to maintain. Dirksen staff chose it in pearl grey without the upholstery option for easy cleaning. The gravity tilt seats increase comfort using an innovative, fully enclosed counterweight. They tilt silently and reliably.

The seats have a patented beam mount system that allows seats to be evenly spaced in every row. Seats can be easily added, removed or re-spaced, as events require. There are 4 ADA accessible arms and 10 ADA removable sleds to ensure compliance and comfort of those with accessibility needs. Because Carroll Seating chose these seats with their unique mounting system, they were able to install an additional 37 seats into the existing auditorium. The room now seats 257 people.

Here is a photo after the Carroll Seating installation:

The team at Carroll Seating was pleased with the finished outcome of this auditorium at Dirksen Junior High School and hope they 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: 29 August 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

School space is at an absolute premium these days. With more students than ever and seemingly less and less money, finding the level playing field gets harder all of the time. More space would help, right? Is it actually possible to find that without converting the janitorial closets into administrative offices? Actually, yes. Your next space saving campaign could start with telescoping gym bleachers.

Aren’t They Uncomfortable?

For schools that don’t already have telescoping bleachers, the biggest concern is lack of comfort for patrons and students during games, events, and assemblies. Sure, the hard wooden options of decades ago really weren’t that comfortable, but today’s choice certainly have those beat. With options like added row spacing, tapered sections, custom rises, and foldable platform chairs, these aren’t the bleachers you’re used to.

Aren’t They Harder to Use?

Today’s telescoping bleacher systems are easier to use than ever before. In fact, you can automate the entire process. At the touch of a button, the seating can automatically fill the right space. Touch it again and it retracts for added space. It just doesn’t get easier than that.

How Do They Look?

These seating choices look exactly like you want them to. Customized to fit your space exactly, you can add all sorts of features to help enhance the entire look of your gym. Add your mascot to help cheer your team on. Consider end-closure curtains. Think about doing the entire gym in your school colors. Sure, standard, hard wood bleachers were once the only option you had, but now you can be as colorful as you’d like to be.

To learn more about how we can give your gym a little more space with telescoping bleachers, give us a call today, and explore just how much you can do with that extra space!

Published: 26 August 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Lecture and Theater Seating

Auditoriums make amazing spaces for a variety of different events. From plays and concerts to graduations, special lectures, and even religious services, the right auditorium can mean so much to a facility or a community. As it ages, though, it not only becomes an outdated space, but it may also become more difficult to use. The last thing you want is for it to fall into disrepair. Auditorium remodel is your next logical step, but if you think this can only be a simple facelift, it’s time to reimagine the possibilities.

Preserving the History

Many resist auditorium remodels, citing the history of the area itself and the idea that all of that will be lost once the remodel takes place. That, though, couldn’t be further from the truth. Even in very historic theaters, a remodel is possible, carefully preserving those special elements community members or patrons may not want to see lost in the change. The key here is proper planning. At Carroll Seating Company, our team can help from start to finish. Once you give us a call, you’ll be paired with a project manager who will ensure you get the best possible service, starting with that initial plan.

Potential

One of the best aspects of an auditorium remodel is the fact that you can add so much to your space. From customized, comfortable seating for everyone in the audience to new acoustics and lighting systems, there’s so much that can be done to make the much-needed shift in your space. Carroll Seating company can help. For more than half a century, we’ve been working with spaces just like yours, creating the ideal environment, no matter what that stage is used for again and again. The trusted name in auditorium seating and remodels, we’re the only place to turn as soon as you’re ready. Give us a call today.

Published: 19 August 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

The work world is not always a pretty place. In fact, it can get downright ugly at times, and the chance to get away from it all, if only for a few moments, is an absolute must. The one place they can do it without actually leaving the office? Your break room. Have you taken a look at it lately? Is it really the inviting, comforting place it should be? If not, it’s certainly time for a makeover. Here are some tips that may help.

Make It Inviting: No one wants to head into a dark, crowded area, so as you begin thinking about design concerns, think about everything. Remember to choose an inviting color, and consider going with some motivational sayings or artwork on the walls. As you choose furniture, remember that you want a combination of comfortable and functional. You also want a space that’s large enough for small groups to have lunch together and socialize. You’ll also want a few spaces for some to have privacy, read, or make phone calls while taking a break.
Think Function: Your employees need easy access to everything. If it’s not easy to get to, you’re going to find chaos on your hands fairly quickly. For example, if you can’t get to the coffee maker and the microwave at the same time, or no one can ever find the tea bags or the sugar, you may have a problem on your hands. Consider how your employees might use your break room, and then add organizational or functional features as needed.
Keep It Clean and Stocked: Once you’ve implemented your redesign, make sure employees actually want to utilize the space by keeping it clean and as well stocked as possible. Whether you have your cleaning crew hit the break room too or you simply have employees rotate on who cleans the break room from week to week, it needs to stay nice. As far as stocking it goes, consider ordering supplies in advance and having them delivered automatically, as it will take the thought process out of the equation.

A good employee break room can do so much for your productivity. To learn more about how we can help make yours more inviting, contact us today.

Published: 12 August 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Gym and Sports Equipment

What’s it going to take to make this season amazing? What has to change? Sure, there are things your players need to work on. There may be things you need to work on from a coaching perspective. More than anything else, though, it often comes down to the basics, and having good equipment on your side has to be part of that equation.

Understanding the Importance of Equipment

Wondering why your team can’t really look at things from a competition perspective until you’ve upgraded your equipment? It’s simple, really. Volleyball gets more competitive every single day. The field is narrowing fast, and no matter what level you’re at, your players need to realize that things are changing in the world of volleyball. From sand volleyball to indoor team volleyball organizations, players’ skills are making massive leaps forward. To compete, any player has to be ready to make that jump to the next level.

Wondering where equipment comes in? It’s not just skill that’s going to help your players move forward. The technology behind the equipment is changing too. If there’s an improvement that might mean an edge in the game, it’s going to appear, and that often means teams need to continually upgrade equipment just to keep up.

Getting Started

You want the best for your team, right? After all, the best equipment means better results with every match. When you get ready to upgrade your equipment, give us a call. At Carroll Seating Company, we’ve been working with teams just like yours for decades. We have the knowledge to ensure you get what you need to remain competitive throughout the season. Take a moment to think what a difference new equipment might make to your team, then give us a call. We’ll be happy to help you make that shift!