Independent Cinema Office

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capacity and space requirements >

Seating capacity and space requirements

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The amount of space required for each

auditorium depends on a number of factors
but the figures below provide an
approximate guide. The calculations are
based on a modern design using 1.101.20
metres from seat back to seat back and 550
600mm seat widths.
200 seats: 270m / 2,900 ft2
150 seats: 190m / 2,000 ft2
75 seats: 125 m / 1,350 ft2

The number of screens and the auditorium

capacity depend on many factors ranging
Auditorium at Derby QUAD
from audience potential estimates and the
programming range that is planned to the
finance available and the characteristics and size of the site or building. In general one medium or large
auditorium seating at least 150 people is required. A more typical capacity is around 200-230 seats. This
auditorium should be able to accommodate the peak audiences at weekends people turned away from
a full house may not return.
Additional auditoria should be graduated in size down to 70-100 seats for the smallest screen. The
variation in capacity allows films to be placed in auditoria that match their anticipated audience. Smaller
capacity auditoria may prove to be viable as outlined in the section about Digital cinemas. There are a
few new community cinemas beginning to buck the trend as cities gain small single screening rooms
with unusual or luxury seating. It is, however, advisable to carefully investigate the operational
economics of operating such small auditoria before including them in a new design or a refurbishment
project.