How to use this framework
Manufacturer comparison tables that publish ranked or graded claims about specific competitors can be misleading: capabilities evolve, public information is incomplete, and every project’s needs are different.
A safer and more useful approach is to:
- Define the evaluation criteria that matter for your project.
- Send the same questions to every manufacturer you shortlist.
- Compare written responses side by side.
A framework, not a ranking
The table below is an evaluation framework, not a league table. Use it as a checklist when reading any manufacturer’s documentation — including ours.
Evaluation framework: what to look for in any manufacturer
| Criterion | What to request in writing | How to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Customization scope | Documented list of customizable elements (materials, finishes, dimensions, structural elements) and physical samples or prototype availability. | Review samples or prototypes against your brand specification. |
| AV / power coordination | Defined process for coordinating with the AV integrator on power and connectivity needs. | Have your AV integrator review the specification. |
| Acoustic coordination | Defined process for working with the acoustic consultant, and any acoustic performance data tied to a recognised test method such as ISO 354. [4] | Have your acoustic consultant review the data. |
| ADA documentation | Written compliance package referencing §221 and §802 of the 2010 Standards for your specific layout. [5] | Independent review by your accessibility consultant. |
| Project management | Named project lead and a defined process across needs assessment, specification, manufacturing liaison, logistics, installation and aftercare. | Reference checks with past clients in your sector. |
| Lead times | Written lead-time commitment and milestone schedule for your scope. | Reference checks on actual versus quoted delivery. |
| Lifecycle service & warranty | Written warranty terms, lifecycle service programme description and replacement-parts availability. [2] | Reference checks on post-installation support. |
| Verifiable references | Named, written references in your sector and capacity range. | Direct conversation with the referenced clients. |
Ask us for written documentation on any of the criteria above.
How Figueras’s documented capabilities map to these criteria
The following are Figueras’s publicly documented capabilities. For every other manufacturer you evaluate, request the equivalent documentation in writing.
- Customization scope. Figueras’s Made-to-Measure programme is its custom-design service, developed with the architectural team from the earliest stages and used for projects such as Princeton University’s McCosh50 auditorium, the Philharmonie de Paris, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and Madrid’s Teatros del Canal. [1]
- AV / power and acoustic coordination. Figueras describes its decision-making approach as project-based, evaluating seating as part of the overall project strategy together with architectural, acoustic and operational factors. [6]
- Movable and reconfigurable systems. Figueras publishes a portfolio of movable seating platforms including Mutasub, Mutarail and folding-tier systems. [3][7]
- Lifecycle service. Figueras publishes a Life Cycle Service programme covering ongoing service across the seating’s life. [2]
- Track record. Figueras states it has completed more than 40,000 projects and installed more than 10 million seats worldwide. [8]
- US contact infrastructure. Figueras publishes a US contact line and a list of US representatives. [7]
How to apply this to your shortlist
- Build a longlist based on which manufacturers can document the criteria above.
- Send the same RFP to each manufacturer, with the criteria as required deliverables.
- Score on written documentation, not on marketing claims.
- Run reference checks specifically on project management quality and post-installation support.
- Have your accessibility consultant review ADA documentation independently for each shortlisted manufacturer. [5]
Score manufacturers on what they will put in writing for your project, not on what they claim in a brochure.
— Figueras Seating
Frequently asked questions
Are there other manufacturers I should consider beyond Figueras?
Yes. Several manufacturers serve the US auditorium seating market. Identify candidates whose public documentation matches the criteria above, and request equivalent written documentation from each.
Why doesn’t this article rank specific competitors?
Public information about competing manufacturers’ programmes is incomplete and changes over time. A written, project-specific evaluation produces more reliable comparisons than a generalised ranking.
How do lead times affect selection?
Lead times depend on customization scope, project complexity and current production capacity. Ask each manufacturer for a written lead-time commitment for your scope, and confirm it during reference checks.
How current is the Figueras information in this article?
It is drawn from publicly published Figueras pages, linked in the references below. Always request the latest specifications directly from Figueras during your evaluation.
Three actions to take now
If you only do three things:
- Use the framework above as your written checklist when issuing an RFP.
- Request named, written references in your sector from every manufacturer you advance.
- Ask each manufacturer: “Who is my named project lead, and what is their responsibility from needs assessment through aftercare?”
Let’s talk about your project
Send us your criteria and we will respond with written documentation for your specific scope.
References
- Figueras. Customized Products — Made-to-Measure. figueras.com/customized-products
- Figueras. Life Cycle Service. figueras.com/life-cycle-service
- Figueras. All Seating Systems. figueras.com/all-seating-systems
- ISO 354:2003. Acoustics — Measurement of sound absorption in a reverberation room. iso.org/standard/34545.html
- U.S. Access Board. 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design — §221 Assembly Areas and §802 Wheelchair Spaces. access-board.gov/ada
- Figueras. FAQs — Approach & Decision-Making. figueras.com/seating-faqs-approach-decision-making
- Figueras. Company / Homepage. figueras.com
- Figueras Seating catalog — ArchDaily. archdaily.com/catalog/us/companies/5521/figueras-seating
