Theater Design Criteria
The planning of seating areas in places of assembly should involve the following
considerations:
1. EFFICIENCY : The floor area efficiency in square feet per seat is a function of the
row spacing, the average chair width, and the space allocation per seat for aisles.
See information on "Auditorium Seating" for further discussion of these factors.
Efficiency (F) = seat factor + aisle factor
F [sq ft/seat ]= (WsT)/( 144) + (IT)/( 144) x (1)/( Savg)
where Ws = average seat width (in.)
T = row to row spacing (tread) (in.)
I = average aisle width (in.) (42 in. width is typical)
Savg = average number of seats in a row per single aisle: 8 or fewer—
inefficient layout; 14 to 16—maximum efficiency (multiple aisle seating); 18 to
50 and more—continental seating.
2. CAPACITY AND AUDIENCE AREA : Audience area = capacity x efficiency.
35–75 Classroom
75–150 Lecture room, experimental
theater
150–300 Large lecture room, small
theater
300–750 Average drama theater in
educational setting
750– Small commercial theater,
1500
repertory theater, recital hall
1500– Medium large theater, large
2000
commercial theater
2000– Average civic theater, concert
3000
hall, multiple use hall
3000– Very large auditorium
6000
Over Special assembly facilities
6000
3. PERFORMING AREA (not including adjacent support area)(sq ft):
Minimum Average Maximum
Lectures (single speaker) 150 240 500
Revue, nightclub 350 450 700
Legitimate drama 250 550 1000
Dance 700 950 1200
Musicals, folk opera 800 1200 1800
Symphonic concerts 1500 2000 2500
Opera 1000 2500 4000
Pageant 2000 3500 5000
4. ORIENTATION OF SEATED SPECTATOR : Head strain is minimized by orienting
chairs or rows of chairs so that spectators face the center of action of the performing
area.
5. ANGLE OF VISION OF SPECTATOR : The human eye has a peripheral spread of
vision of about 130°. This angle of view from chairs in the front rows will define the
outer limits of the maximum sized performing area. See "Angle Of Vision Of
Spectator" diagram.
6. ANGLE OF ENCOUNTER : The angle of encounter is defined by the 130° peripheral
spread of vision of a single performer standing at the "point of command." Patrons
seated outside the spread of this angle will not have simultaneous eye contact with
performer. Natural sound communication will also deteriorate for these patrons. See
"Angle Of Encounter" diagram.
7. DISTANCE BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AND LAST ROW OF SPECTATORS :
Achievement of visual and sound communication is enhanced by minimizing this
distance while satisfying the preceding parameters.
Copyright © 1996
Architectural GRAPHIC Standards CD-ROM
John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY
