Blog - Page 20 of 29 - Carroll Seating Company

Published: 24 June 2014

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Categories: Furnishing a Library

Statistically speaking, reading scores for elementary students across the nation are in nothing short of a freefall. Despite the continual focus on this essential skill, few students are picking up books and sitting down to read just for fun, and it’s certainly contributing to a lacking love of books the world over. One simple way to change that? Give them a library space they’ll want to visit again and again. Summer is the perfect time for a library redesign. Take a moment to imagine the possibilities.

Get Colorful: Schools are still often drab places, and libraries are little different. It’s amazing what some color can do, though. Whether you’re talking about a simple paint job on the walls themselves, a mural depicting your school mascot and colors, or even bright chairs, bookcases, and workspaces, color can help encourage kids to come in and stay.
Get Creative: Quick, imagine that you’re nine years old again. What would be the coolest possible thing you could have in a library? What if the entire library had whiteboard walls where you could record your thoughts about your latest read? What if every nook and cranny was decorated like a favorite children’s book from Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter? If you can dream it, we can help you make it happen.
Get Comfortable: Libraries aren’t going to be amazing reading spaces if you don’t have comfortable, cute tables and chairs for students to relax. Get a pair of cushy chairs that look just like rocket ships! Add tables that look like fast food restaurant booths your students already know and love. Consider study carrels with soft seating options instead of traditional hard chairs. The cozier your spaces, the more likely students are to want to come back and stick around.

Ready to get started on your library redesign? Give us a call. From start to finish, we’ll help you do more with your library space and help encourage students to read!

Published: 17 June 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

As you think about fixed seating for your stadium, you’ve probably already realized that it’s just not as simple as choosing a product and going with it. Instead, there are a number of considerations that must be made.

Seating Style: Looking for something with a bit of classic ballpark style? Want those more modern ergonomics that fans seem to love? You’ll need to choose before you make your order. Don’t forget to factor in ADA standards as you think about the style that may best meet your needs.
Fan Engagement: Just how excited are those sitting in that stadium? The mor e excited they get, the tougher your seating choices need to be. If they’re as avid as World Cup soccer fans, for example, you’re going to need something seriously durable. If they’re a little less enthused simply because of the kinds of events you tend to hold in the stadium, you can probably make other selections.
Weather: Understanding the weather patterns in your area also makes a huge difference in the seats you choose for your stadium. In the upper Midwest, snow and rain are the forecast norms for a good portion of the year. Stadiums in the Southwest, though, have very different potential, particularly that of blistering heat and dry conditions day after day. Make certain the seats you choose can take the weather in your area.
Concessions: Most stadiums serve concessions at will, and if you serve any kind of food or beverages, you can bet that sooner or later, it’s going to end up on your seating choice. Know a bit more about the wherewithal for your seating choice to deal with that kind of abuse before you make a final decision.

As you work to select the right fixed seating for your stadium, contact Carroll Seating Company. The choice of hundreds of arenas for ordering, installation, and maintenance, we’ll be with you every step of the way.

Published: 10 June 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Lecture and Theater Seating

What’s the single most important part of every event you hold in your school theatre? The seating, of course! No matter what the event or performance you’ll be holding, those seats will be well-used, so making the right choice is an absolute must. These days, though, everything is completely customizable, and understanding exactly what your options might be is an absolute must.

Cushioning: It may seem like a simple choice, but there are lots of options in this category. Not only can you choose different types of padding, but you can also select from a variety of thicknesses to help offer those in your seats added comfort. Additionally, the covering on your cushioning can come in a variety of colors and materials. You could even opt to have seats embroidered with your school mascot, initials, or another logo.
Mechanisms: This category hits on both the decision of whether to go with rising seat cushions as well as the choice in arm rests. If you select rising seat cushions, going with a gravity-lift mechanism can mean a quieter experience. There are, though, a number of other options. Arm rest choices can not only include the type of materials you wish to use, but also whether you want a flip up arm rest to allow for more seat space.
Aisle End Covers: As you search for a way to make your school theatre really stand out, this is the perfect way to customize your seating choices. From laminate to solid wood designs that have been engraved to meet your needs, the options here are almost endless.

Whether you’re looking to breathe new life into your auditorium, you need to do some renovations, or you want something a bit more versatile, we can help. With the experience, knowledge, and product choices your school needs, Carroll Seating Company is the only place to turn.

Published: 3 June 2014

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

It seems almost everyone and everything has gone green these days, and with talk of climate change continually in the media, it’s little wonder why. While you might remember your commitment to a greener world when you’re composting or using the water in your rain barrels, it can be a bit tougher to see how to incorporate it as you sit on the planning committee of a new lab. Even in educational and commercial laboratories across the country, though, going green can play a factor, and LEED designed lab casework can help you meet that goal.

What is LEED?

There are lots of terms associated with today’s green revolution, and LEED is one of many. The acronym actually stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it is part of an initiative by the U.S. Green Building Council to help encourage professionals to design and build buildings and structures that are a bit more environmentally appropriate. There are a number of different categories within LEED goals including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation and design process, and regional priority.

How Does It Apply to Casework?

The casework for that new lab primarily falls into the materials and resources category. In order to get that LEED certification, you’ll want to choose sustainable materials or those that use recycled components to be more ecologically friendly. Still lost as to even how that works? Here are a few examples that may help.

Those hardwood, veneers, and plywood choices that come from forests that are FSC managed are considered to be fully sustainable. The timber there is rapidly regenerated and the soil and site productivity is carefully protected and managed.
Steel choices can also be considered green because it can be made from sheet steel that contains scrap material that comes from old cars, appliances, and manufacturing fall off.

Don’t feel limited by going with LEED certification, though. There are still lots of options available to you. The key here is to talk to your designer and project management about your goals. It’s the only way to make sure every scrap of material that goes into your new lab is actually meeting your overall green goals.

The Benefits

Not sure why you should even consider LEED casework for your new lab? There are actually a number of different reasons.

Tax Credits: There are ongoing tax credits for certified LEED facilities that may help your organization save some money at the end of the year, something that’s certain to make the accounting staff a bit happier.
Smaller Price Tag: It may seem odd, but LEED materials often come with a far smaller price tag than even traditional materials, helping to put more money back into your project budget.
It’s Healthier: LEED materials often have fewer associated health problems than more traditional materials today, and that can be an excellent choice for those employees or students who will be in there on a daily basis.

To learn more about LEED certifications and materials, contact your designer or project manager.

Published: 30 May 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Locker Solutions

In a world like this, not just any locker will do in your station. It has to be better, tougher, and more efficient. That’s why we carry a full line of American made maximum security lockers to ensure you get exactly what’s necessary.

The Benefits

You already know that security is essential to what you do every day. You probably also already know that not just any choice on the market will do. Our complete line, though, can help. Take a look at just a few of the benefits.

Stronger Construction: From the start, you need tough lockers that can deal with the people, the job, and the gear, so everything we carry is designed for those in your station.
Better Durability: It’s a tough world out there, and your lockers need to be far tougher to take the abuse shift after shift. All of our choices are ready for anything, just like you have to be.
Customization Choices: No matter exactly what your needs may be, we can help. From evidence lockers that will help you keep essential items safe to weapons storage that will ensure everything is tightly protected, we can design a system that will meet your needs on a daily basis.

Choose Carroll Seating Company

As you shop for lockers for your station, the only place to turn is Carroll Seating Company. With the experience, knowledge, and product line to help you do more, we’ll be here every step of the way from the initial ordering product through product installation. We’ll even stay a phone call away should any of your units ever require repair. Get a partner who understands the importance of what you do day to day. Choose Carroll Seating Company. Call us today to learn more about our complete line of secure locker options.

Published: 27 May 2014

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Categories: Casework & Millwork

It might be the very first thing they see when they walk in your office, and even if it isn’t, you can be sure that it’s going to leave a big impression. It’s your reception desk, and while you could certainly go with an off-the-shelf model you got at some giant office store, having one customized to meet your needs and the overall style of your office is going to say volumes about your company.

Why Go Custom?

A customized choice has much to offer your company. Take a look at these benefits.

Meet Your Existing Style: Whether you’re having your office renovated or you simply want a new look to your reception area, going with a customized choice means the styles will match perfectly. The last thing you want is for your style choices to clash right where your clients are going to be trying to decide if you’re the right company to move forward with.
Create a More Functional Space: Customizing your reception desk means you get something that actually works. If you need more drawer space, better desktop area, or even task lighting, customization is the perfect way to get it.
Inspire Creativity: There’s nothing quite like customization to help serve as an inspiration for the entire workspace. The more unique, the more likely you are to continually build that culture of innovation throughout your entire space.

Why Carroll Seating Company?

Our casework is second to none. We can work with a variety of different materials from wood to metal and everything in between, and when it comes to reception desks with style, we have a history that’s nothing short of amazing. Contact us today to take a look at just a few of our past projects, then chat with us about your new reception desk. We’ll handle all of the details from start to finish, ensuring that the next person who walks into your office will be absolutely amazed. Give us a call now to get started.

Published: 20 May 2014

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Categories: School seating, Seating Solutions

Even if your outdoor seating system has served you well in the past, all good things must come to an end at some point. When is the end of outdoor seating and what are your options for replacement? Do some exploration now.

The End is Near

You may realize that it’s time to update or replace your outdoor seating options when a number of different situations occur. First, if your crowd size has simply outgrown what once worked for your facility, you may want to look at doing some updates. If, for example, you currently have a solid set of bleachers on a school football field but your population has tripled in size since the bleachers were installed, it may be time to look to additional bleachers or other options entirely. Continue to abuse the bleachers with too much weight, and you could have a real safety issue on your hands.

Another reason you may need to make some changes is that your current system has been in use too long. If, during a routine safety inspection, you realize that things just don’t look as sturdy as they once did, replacement is the only option to consider. Thanks to the elements, outdoor seating systems do actually expire, and paying attention to that end when it happens is essential to protect your patrons.

What’s Next?

Fortunately, once you do decide that it’s time to make some replacements, you have lots of different options available. From traditional aluminum bleachers to powder coated amazement as well as custom layouts, we have the outdoor seating options your field needs, no matter what. Contact us today to learn more about your options or for an outdoor seating inspection to determine if your patrons can continue using your current seating choices safely.

Published: 13 May 2014

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Categories: Gym and Sports Equipment

The right team has the passion and power to win the game no matter what the odds are. The level of spirit players bring to the field on game day is essential, but the reality is that you can have the best players in the world and still not win if you don’t have the right equipment. Sure, baseball is the one game that started in vacant spaces with simple sticks and balls of any shape and size, but it’s moved far beyond that today, so you can’t expect your players to perform well against teams that are better equipped. The solution? Professional baseball equipment from Carroll Seating Company.

More Than Bleachers

We’ve been providing the right seating solutions for arenas, auditoriums, schools, and more for decades, but over the years, we’ve found a need in the world of professional level sports equipment that just wasn’t being met by other vendors. It led us to develop a service that has been invaluable to teams and facilities across the country – our professional sports equipment service. Providing the right equipment so teams across the country can compete at a higher level of play, we’ve worked hard to refine our offerings so you get exactly what your team needs right now.

It All Starts Now

Whether your team is just starting training for a summer season or you have a full schedule of games lined up all ready, the time to place your order was yesterday. We’ll walk you through the entire process, even providing a single point of contact whom you can call at any point in the process to refine your order or add to it.

Your team will not become the best in the league without the right partners on your side, and Carroll Seating Company is more than happy to help with the ideal equipment. Contact us today to learn more.

Published: 6 May 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Bleacher seating

Bleacher accidents continue to grace the headlines year after year, and the media does little to quell the increasing worry about this very common seating option. The last thing you want is patrons who are hurt as a result of negligence, and given that most bleacher accidents could have been predicted with the right care and maintenance, a bit of extra work now could go a long way toward keeping those spectators safe. This is also the perfect time to handle maintenance, as if you do discover problems, you have a bit of time on your hands to fix them. Here’s a checklist that can help you keep everyone on your bleachers safe in the upcoming season.

Take a look at the obvious stuff. Stairs, ramps, and aisles should all be clean, free of debris, and in good working order. If you notice any loose flooring or seats that are splintering, you should certainly have it repaired immediately. Other damaged areas should be noted and assessed for their overall impact on the safety of your bleacher system.
Look at all of the fasteners, including the nuts and bolts. Make sure that they’re as tight as they should be. If any of them are missing completely, replace them.
Examine the wall and floor anchors. Are they as tight as they should be? Do they look a bit worn? If they’re damaged or missing completely, replace them. If they’ve served well for quite some time, it’s not a bad idea to go ahead and replace them then as well.
Look at welded joints. You should see them both in the frames and in the bracing of the bleachers. Make certain the welds are holding well. If they seem loose at all, have them looked at by a professional.
Any parts that produce friction need to be lubricated now and mid-way through the season. If it looks like damage has occurred because of a lack of lubrication, make certain you have it addressed.
Take a close look at the handrails and safety rails along the sides and backs of the bleachers. The rails themselves as well as the mounting hardware need to be carefully examined for possible problems.

The best thing you can do for your patrons is to have a professional inspector look over your bleachers before the season starts. He or she will not only carefully look at your bleacher system from every possible angle, but also certify that they have recently been inspected, helping to indemnify you in the even tragedy occurs in the future. Talk to the professionals who installed your bleachers to see if they offer inspection services.

Published: 29 April 2014

Written by Carroll Seating

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Categories: Locker Solutions

No matter what the facility or population served, lockers are a great way to provide secure storage for a variety of gear. Whether it’s personal belongings at a children’s museum, gear at a community rec center, or even equipment at a volunteer fire station, lockers can do a job no other storage solution can do. Even if you think they’re the perfect solution to meet your needs, though, what do you do when your budget simply can’t stand to tackle the expense of new lockers? Shop used, of course, and Carroll Seating can help.

Why Carroll Seating?

We’ve been providing a variety of locker options to all kinds of facilities across the U.S. for decades now, so if there’s one thing we know, it’s lockers. We even provide maintenance and repair options to all of our customers. As a result, when they move to upgrade to something different, we’re the first people they call, so often we can obtain great used lockers for your facility at a fantastic price. Unlike buying from eBay or another online marketplace, though, you’re buying them directly from us, so you know you’re going to get a fantastic deal on a high quality product that will serve your needs well in the years to come.

Don’t second guess your storage needs. Lockers are a great option, even if they’re a bit out of your price range. Learn how we can help with a complete selection of used lockers now. When you call, you’ll speak one on one with your personal locker case manager, and we’ll help match you up with the best possible choice to meet the demands of your facility. We’ll chat not only about what might work, but also about the best configuration and your price range.

When it’s time for used lockers, don’t fight the tide. Call Carroll Seating now for high quality choices in your budget.