Retractable Seating for Maximum Creativity

Retractable Seating for Flexibility

As a portable combination of seating (chairs or benches) and platforms, retractable seating, also called telescopic seating:

· Isn't exorbitantly priced

· Is the design solution at venues where floor plan flexibility absolutely has to be maximised. For example, a sporting arena can free up space for gymnastic displays on the main floor area, or for rings or battling cages to be placed for boxing matches and professional mixed martial arts contests and competitions

· Means that seating can be arranged in different configurations

· Is easy to move around (without needing a dozen pair of hands or more!), yet is still sturdy and durable enough to seat big audiences on a regular basis. It's got the strength to withstand the behaviour and movement of even the liveliest crowd.

How Automated Retractable Stands Work

An electrical cabinet (with easy access) is built into the seating stand. The front of the stand's first tier can be taken away with ease, allowing access to the motor in all positions. Inside the cabinet all the necessary safety systems are in place, and learning to operate the system doesn't involve extensive training. Staff will soon get the hang of retracting rows of seating into a partial seating set up, a single tier, or a streamlined unit, and then moving the stand from one place to another. Oh, and they're sure to have great fun practising completely rotating the stand on its central axis!

Retractable seating also:

· Looks attractive and can come with chairs or benches made in different colours and a choice of materials

· Can include handrails, backrests, seat spacers, seat and row letters (in venue-appropriate typefaces), state-of-the-art aisle lighting, and more

· Can have added extras integrated, such as foldable seats with an incorporated writing tablet in front for each attendee

· Is still safe and ticks every box when it comes to regulatory compliance in public venues, despite being marvellously flexible and portable (i.e. not permanently fixed/bolted down into a concrete or stone foundation)

· Comes with a long service life, making it a sensible investment as well as possibly adding value through enhancing a venue's overall design and appeal

What's also great about telescopic seating design is that seats can automatically fold, meaning that folding of the stand itself can be FAST. There will be no stray 'jamming risk' seats needing to be manually closed by a member of staff before the chairs, telescopic railings, end panels and other parts of the stand can be drawn in into one streamlined unit. This can then be rolled and placed out of the way, opening up floor place. The whole process can be smoothly done, with no stress or strain on workers and no concerns about safety or the missing of event preparation deadlines. And when the venue requires seating for its next public show, the retractable seating system can simply be brought back, and made ready for the spectators arrival, all at the press of a button.

Materials to Match your Venue Design

Seats for retractable seating can be wood, plastic or fabric, depending upon what's deemed most suitable for a venue. Generally speaking, wood is a popular choice for places primarily focused upon staging educational and sporting events, plastic (in home team colours?) is considered the best bet at dedicated sporting arenas (for basketball games, ice hockey matches...), and at auditoriums used mostly for cultural events, fabric seats are the most suitable option. Whichever seating type is chosen, all offer stability and comfort: the two key requirements of any spectator. And it doesn't stop there...

Not only can chairs be designed and finished in shades and materials purposefully chosen to blend in beautifully with the environment, complementary high-end chairs - with plush armrests, deep comfort design, and ultra-modern added extras, such as integrated TV tablets - can be included in specific areas, to accommodate VIP, VVIPs and specially invited guests (this is something expected at venues offering 'exclusive packages' at certain events).

With all this, it's not surprising that retractable seating systems are being increasingly considered and invested in at all sorts of venues worldwide.