How do you design venue seating to work with the most high tech flooring system in the southern hemisphere?

Melbourne’s new convention centre was designed to be very versatile - each row can be flipped up-side-down to hide the seats, creating more floor space as required. The MCC needed a new seat solution up to the challenge.

Outerspace worked with Camatic to create ‘Evoke’. The seat envelope was tightly controlled to avoid interference with the floor when rotated. Traditional gravity back and seat pan mechanisms were replaced with gas springs to keep the seat quietly folded, even when flipped upside down.

Self-skinning polyurethane arms were styled, textured and coloured in collaboration with the architect. A cosmetic cover panel with integrated indicator lights hides the folded writing tablet and complex mechanisms.

The "Jot" writing tablet provides a convenient A3 writing surface, positioned comfortably in relation to the arm rest.

All components were tested for durability, and can be disassembled for servicing and recycling. Upholstery covers are zip removable for laundering or replacement.

A mechanism including gas strut, and articulating knuckle in a rotating cylinder ensures easy, fluid motion of the tablet from storage position. Some metal parts were replaced with engineering plastics to save weight and run through computer simulations (FEA) to optimise strength.

Seat padding is ergonomically contoured using specifically formulated foams for long-term comfort. Upholstery colours are varied to maintain a consistent look regardless of number and placement of guests

An engineered anti-panic feature automatically and gently folds away the tablet if the user suddenly stands up in an emergency.

The success of the versatile and well detailed Evoke at the MCC has helped Camatic key contracts for other high profile venues.