From important meetings to sharing new ideas; conference halls can host a variety of organisations and conversational topics, many of which can last several hours. So, it’s important to have the right seating for your conference hall.
What is conference style seating?
Conference style seating can vary in style and layout depending on the size of the room and how many individuals it needs to accommodate for. The two main types of conference seating styles are conference room seating and conference hall seating.
Conference Room Seating Configurations
Conference Room Seating typically consists of portable chairs situated around a large table, usually accommodating around 30 people maximum, typically used for both internal and external business meetings. Conference room seating layouts utilise the table as the main focal point of the room, creating a semi-casual environment which encourages collaboration between all participants, where the focus can be easily shifted to different individuals around the table.
Classroom Style Conference Room Seating
This conference seating arrangement type features small tables in rows, typically seating 2-6 people each and all facing the same direction to focus on a singular speaker. This style of seating is ideal for any venue space, as the table and chairs can be moved around or combined as needed, allowing you to increase or decrease the seating depending on the audience size.
Aisles are necessary when adopting this conference hall seating arrangement, as the audience needs access to enter and exit with ease. This seating arrangement is great for sessions which encompass both focused attention to a key speaker at the front of the room, as well as moments of collaboration and discussion in small break-off groups.
Herringbone Style Conference Room Seating
Herringbone conference seating (or V-shaped or Chevron seating – so many names!) is very similar to classroom seating, but the desks and chairs are at an angle. This angle is usually inwards and provides the audience with a better view of the speaker, ideal for conferences and meetings that utilise visual aspects, such as video or PowerPoints, whilst still allowing for discussions in small groups.
Conference Hall Seating
Conference hall seating is typically used for larger venues, seating up to several hundred individuals. This is commonly used in lecture halls at schools and universities. This seating arrangement is catered towards large groups with one focus speaker at the front, but still allows for collaboration and discussion amongst small groups. It encourages focus to the front of the room, where all eyes are directed to the speaker or any media displayed on the front screen. Conference hall seating is usually tiered, so that those seating at the back of the room are not at a disadvantage. Unlike conference room seating which features portable chairs in order to make the space multi-functional, conference hall seating is typically a fixed structure, as the space is commonly purpose built as a permanent conference hall.
Theatre Style Conference Hall Layout
Also referred to as auditorium style seating, the theatre layout is a classic conference hall seating arrangement. Theatre seating is the go-to configuration for any meeting or conference that involves a central speaker, as the aligned rows all face the focal point of the room, such as a stage, podium, screen, whatever your venue may have.
If your conferences need to accommodate a large audience, auditorium seating could be the best option for you.
Check our case study on out the theatre style conference hall seating we designed and installed for The University of Hertfordshire.
U-Shape Style Conference Hall Seating
True to its name, the U-shape seating arrangement is, you guessed it – in the shape of a U. This allows there to be a focal point, making this particularly useful for conferences that involve a singular speaker. U-shape conference seating is a great option for conference halls that are conscious of space, as the seating covers ¾ of the room, meaning it can accommodate larger amounts of people than a traditional theatre style layout, which only utilises 1 wall of the conference hall.
Let Auditoria Services Help You!
Has a style of conference hall seating caught your eye? Or, perhaps you’re still unsure what seating configuration is best for your venue? Contact Auditoria today and our team of experts can help you configure the best seating style for your conference hall.
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