That final bell has gone off, the students have deserted the building for the next three months, and it’s time to get to work. You want your building to look amazing when they come back, and that can mean some serious renovation. One change that will make your space look amazing? New lockers!

Do Lockers Actually Matter?

Many administrators don’t actually value locker conditions, and for good reason. It’s been some time since most administrators and teachers alike have wandered through the halls as students. Think back to your middle and high school days, thought, to answer that question. Did your locker matter? Absolutely! It was the one space you could count on while switching from room to room all day. It was the one space in the building that was yours. Complete with posters, customizable shelves, and that pair of gym shorts at the back you kept forgetting to take home, it was an important space in your life, and it is in the lives of your students as well.

Deciding on the Right Upgrades

If you’re not sure what upgrades to make, you may want to consider the following checklist.

  • Consider Size First: There’s only so much space in the building, so if you can nail down the right locker size from the outset, you’re going to make your search quite a bit easier. Decide whether a full locker or a two tiered system might best meet the needs of your students. Think carefully about how often they hit their lockers between classes, what gets stored, and more to decide on the right lockers to meet your needs.
  • Added Features: Lockers aren’t what they once were. In fact, there are many features to choose from you hadn’t considered in today’s lockers. If you go with recessed handles, you’re going to find far fewer snags on student clothing and backpacks. Decide whether you need single point locking or multi-point locking to help protect a student’s possessions. You may even want to go witih electronic keypads to help eliminate the more traditional locker padlocks.
  • Think Assembly: How much time does your maintenance staff have to deal with the locker issue? It’s possible that there’s not much time, so decide whether you want to waste that time assembling lockers or whether you’d prefer to buy something preassembled.
  • Don’t Forget Appearance: Lockers can look amazing! Go with school colors, varied door colors, and more to help enhance how those lockers look and how students feel about your space.

Summer is the perfect time to upgrade student lockers. Get busy with that project now. Contact us today to help select the perfect school lockers for your space.

The Lyons Township High School locker rooms were 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 DLA Architects, Ltd and the design team at Carroll Seating to plan a full update their locker rooms.

Here is a photo before:

LTHS Lockers before
LTHS Lockers before

One of the first things the team did was review the space involved.  They needed create a solid traffic flow around the lockers as well as a sense of privacy for the students to change, They decided on DeBourgh Lockers.  These lockers provided the mixed combinations needed to install as many lockers as possible.  Plus, they are made from superior manufacturing using all-welded construction with a state of the art powder coat finish.

Carroll Seating was also asked to customize the locker room benches.  School administration wanted wood benching.  Carroll Seating designed and built these custom milled benches for all of the high school’s locker rooms.

Here’s a photo after installation:

LTHS Lockers After
LTHS Lockers After

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

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.

 

New lockers for a school, whether it’s a brand new building or you’re just making some changes to the space, can be exciting. They’re also not the easiest thing in the world to choose. It may seem like a simple task of checking the latest catalog, pointing, and ordering, but there’s quite a bit more to it than that. Before you place an order for metal school lockers for your building, take a quick look down this checklist to be sure you have all of your bases covered:

  • Are You Choosing The Right Size Lockers? YMCA crystal lake 3If you’ve never ordered metal school lockers before, you might be a bit surprised to learn just how many potentially different sizes there are, and with good reason. Not every school needs the same kinds of locker systems for their students. Public schools packed with students and still growing need small, efficient systems that are just large enough to give students a home base during the day. Slightly smaller schools with a stable population may be looking to add to atmosphere with larger locker spaces so students can carry less from day to day. In order to establish that perfect locker size, though, you’ll need to take a careful look both at your available space and the size of your student population. You don’t want to overestimate how much space you have available.
  • Have You Considered Durability? After size, this is easily the single most important concern. Imagine the life of a school locker for just a moment. Bags, books, shoes, sometimes food, are all thrown in the locker, taken out the of the locker, added to the locker, snatched away from the locker, and every time a kid walks away, that door slams as hard as possible. Durability in this situation is an absolute must. When life happens to a school locker, it shouldn’t ding, dent, or even lose a bit of paint. Before you order, make certain you’re getting top of the line choices or you’ll be replacing them in just a few years.
  • Have You Considered Style? This is probably at the bottom of your list, but it certainly shouldn’t be. Colors and styles can actually do quite a bit to improve the mood of your students. Keep in mind that a locker is essentially your students’ home away from home. The better it looks, the more likely they are to like the space. Sure, you can’t have everything, but a few minor adjustments to colors and styles could give your school the facelift that will have students smiling.

As you work to order the right lockers for your facility, make sure you look at every aspect available. Don’t simply order the first choice you see.

So, you know that your company or school will need lockers, but have you considered many seemingly nitpicking variables such as exact locker dimensions, minimum level of locker security required by the surrounding environment, and minimum durability required for your purposes? Luckily, Carroll Seating has specialists waiting to assist you in making the best possible decision for your company in regards to all of these factors and many more! school lockers, Carroll Seating Co

The Process
First, our professionals will assist you in attaining an idea of exactly what dimensions each locker will have to be. Then, they will assist you in picking out colors that match the aesthetics of the lockers’ potential surroundings. Using casework skills, they will help ensure you get the most spacious and durable lockers for the best price possible, assisting you in keeping within the allotted budget. 

Customization
Perhaps one of the most unique features you may take advantage of when purchasing lockers from our company is the large latitude you are given for customization of the lockers for your budget, aesthetics, or both. For example, you will first have the choice of purchasing a group of new lockers, or a group of used lockers (which are still always pre-certified by us before selling). 

Once you have made that primary decision, you will be allowed to choose the type and weight of the metal used to initially construct the locker. Additionally, you will have a say in the color, lock type, and general dimensions. These will all be compared with the initial casework done in order to ensure that it will all fit both physically and with the surroundings.

Immense Catalog
While Carroll Seating offers friendly, fast, and accurate services and high quality, premium furnishing, it also offers a much larger catalog of lockers to choose from than most of its competitors. While most competitors only offer very limited sizes, colors, types, lock security, and additional small factors that may play an important role in your environment, Carroll Seating’s mission is to provide you with exactly what you would like to have in your locker arrangement.

Finally,  if you need to install lockers, please contact us by phone or email before making any large decisions. The last thing you want to do is rush a decision without knowing many factors and then being disappointed in a mediocre result. With us, you are guaranteed to have each factor done the way you want it done!

Drew Gough, Sales

Drew Gough,  Sales email our team
Drew graduated from Vermont Technical College in 2017 with an Associates degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. With brief experience in small Architectural and Civil firms in the Portland Maine area, Drew later settled in Hussey Seating Company for the past 5 years. Drew joined the CSC sales team in November of 2024 covering the state of Iowa as his sales territory. Drew has a strong technical background and is very passionate about the products he sells. He believes that a thorough understanding of the products combined with open communication with all parties is the key to success in this industry. Outside of work, Drew enjoys fitness related activities, being outdoors, attending concerts, and spending time with his wife, Emily.

Levi Curtis, Project Manager

Levi Curtis,  Project Manager & Estimator email our team
In my free time I enjoy hunting, fishing, and working on our farm with my sons.  My wife and I enjoy traveling and the chaos of the boy’s youth sports.

Tammy Winship, Accountant

Tammy Winship,  Accountant email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Kelli Brandon, Project Manager

Kelli Brandon,  Project Manager & Estimator email our team
When not at the office I enjoy painting, baking, and spending quality time with my three grandkids.  .

Mandy Kohlbrecher, Project Manager

Mandy Kohlbrecher,  Project Manager email our team

Mandy Kohlbrecher is a Senior Project Manager and Senior Estimator for Carroll Seating. She is from Trenton, IL and attended Art Institute (Chicago) and Rankin Technical College.

When she joined Carroll Seating in 2013, she brought 10 years of design experience in interiors and architecture to the team.

Eddie Scheer, Sales

Eddie Scheer,  Sales email our team

Eddie Scheer is Carroll Seating’s Regional Director for Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois.

He was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, a die-hard KU Jayhawks fan and graduate of the KU School of Architecture and Design. He has been with Carroll Seating over 11 years and prior to that time,  he served clients for 23 years as an architect.

Dustin Hecht, Project Manager

Dustin Hecht ,  Project Manager email our team
Dustin is a life-long woodworker with a passion for crafting. When he's not in the workshop, he might be found tinkering with cars or hitting the links for a round of golf. Dustin is a family man, happily married to Courtney, and together they have two daughters.

Mike Yager, Sales

Mike Yager,  Sales email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Doug Mead, General Manager KC and STL

Doug Mead,  General Manager KC and STL email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Jordon Lanning, Repair & Service

Jordon Lanning,  Repair & Service email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

John Underwood

John Underwood,  Warehouse Manager email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Jacob

Jacob Allen,  Rproject Manager & Estimator  email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Connie Gillam,  Repair & Service

Connie Gillam,  Repair & Service  email our team
When out and about I enjoy spending time with my husband Michael and our 5 grandkids.

Brock Christopher,  Sales

Brock Christopher,  Sales email our team
On the weekends and during the evenings, a majority of my time is spent playing soccer with my 7-year-old Kade or working on various projects with my 12-year-old Kael.  During the fall you can find me doing anything related to the KC Chiefs or Mizzou Tigers.

Stephanie Vogl,  R&S Admin

Stephanie Vogl,  RS Admin email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Suzi Johnson,  Project Accountant

Suzi Johnson,  PM Coordinator email our team
I have spent most of my life in Illinois. I enjoy traveling and taking photos. I need coffee to function. My life revolves around my fur child, Norman.

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant

Kevin Morkin,  Insurance / Warehouse email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant

Dineen O’Keeffe,  Project Accountant  email our team
I enjoy spending time with my family. 

Sarah Maynes,  Project Manager/ Estimator

Sarah Maynes,  Project Manager/ Estimator  email our team
When I am not at work I enjoy baking.

PJ Carroll

Ludwig Hoeft,  Project Manager / Estimator email our team
Bio Coming Soon!

PJ Carroll

Sam Shapiro,  Project Manager  email our team

Sam is a safety trained supervisor of construction whose experience ranges from factory to field.

He enjoys hiking, road trips, and rock concerts.

Mike Gillam

Mike Gillam  General Manager & Director of R&S   email our team
My life outside of the office consists of trips to remote locations and spending time with my family and five grandkids.  I love the Lord and doing His work.

PJ Carroll

Patrick J. Carroll,  President  email our team
Pat has been a dedicated member of the Carroll Seating Team since he joined full-time in 1977, after earning his bachelor’s in business from the University of Kansas. He initially gained hands-on experience as an installer during high school and college. In 1998, he was promoted to President, bringing extensive knowledge of both fixed and movable products to the role and focusing on promoting the features of CSC’s vendors for mutual success.  Outside of work, Pat cherishes time with his family, which includes the love of his life Suzy, their three children and four grandchildren. He enjoys golf, fishing, yard work, home projects, and entertaining, always striving to make the most of each day. 

Alexander Klopp

Alexander Klopp  Sales   email our team
When I am not in the office I enjoy my life in the western suburbs as a Husband of 30 years, father of 2 adult children and an active member in our local Presbyterian church. Passions include family adventures with one-of-a-kind experiences.

Tim Haggerty,  Sales  email our team

“When I am not working, I like to enjoy time with my family living an active life style that includes, live music, sporting events, golfing, fishing, and skiing.” 

 

Evan Carroll,  Sales & Special Projects email our team

Evan Patrick Carroll, following an internship from 2003- 2005, joined as full-time sales in 2008.

Tom Madura,  Controller  email our team

Outside of the office, I love spending time with my wife, 3 kids and our dog!  My hobbies include playing golf and practicing guitar which I keep working at. 

Meredith Pollard (Carroll),  General Manager  email our team

Meredith graduated from the University of Kansas in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Minor in Business. 

After pursuing a brief retail career, she joined CSC as a full-time employee in March of 2011. Originally hired in sales, Meredith found her fit in the company was better off in Management. She was promoted to the General Manager of the Chicago office in 2018. As General Manager, she believes that a motivated workforce is the foundation of success, and actively promotes collaboration, open communication, and skill development among all employees and believes that a successful business is built on strong relationships—both with clients and team members.

When not at the office, Meredith enjoys her life in Roscoe Village, downtown, with her husband Mike and son Cameron. 

PJ Carroll

Patrick J. Carroll
President

Patrick Carroll, Jr. assumed the positions as President, in 1998.

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