Longo Associates is an authorized dealer of KI library furniture on New Jersey State Contract. If you would like an library space evaluation, please call (800) 635-6646 or email info@longoinc.com.
A critical element in the design and layout of fixed seating for any public venue is the inclusion of ADA seating that complies with federal regulations. Irwin Seating Company’s seating layout engineers are well versed in these requirements and are diligent in ensuring our seating layouts include the proper quantities of ADA locations for each project.
Recently there have been amendments to the Americans with Disabilities Act updating the quantities and locations of required accessible seats for venue patrons. These changes went into effect in 2010 and become mandatory on March 15, 2012, making our understanding of the changes critical to our sales and order management processes.
The most crucial change in the regulations applies to the number of ADA compliant spaces required in public assembly venues. The updated quantities required are as follows:
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Number of Seats
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Min. Number of Required Wheelchair Spaces
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4 – 25
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1
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26 – 50
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2
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51-150
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4
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151 – 300
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5
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301 – 500
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6
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501 – 5,000
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6 +1 for each 150 (or fraction thereof) between 501 – 5,000
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5,001 and over
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36 +1 for each 200 (or fraction thereof) over 5,000
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Previous regulations required that each wheelchair space must have an adjacent fixed companion seat. Under the new ADA rules, the companion seat no longer needs to be fixed, but can now also be a removable or stack chair.
There have also been changes to the requirements for accessible aisle seating. The quantity of aisle seats required to be armless or have removable armrests has changed from 1% of the total number of chairs to 5% of the aisle end chairs. The ADA aisle seats must now be located closest to accessible routes throughout the venue.
Longo auditorium seating consultants providing FREE seating evaluations to public schools, universities/colleges, performing arts centers and municipal seating venues. If you would like an auditorium seating evaluation, please call (800) 635-6646 or email info@longoinc.com.
Longo Seating Projects in New Jersey:
Lecture Hall Seating Projects throughout Rutgers University Campuses
New Performing Arts Seating at Alexander Kasser Theatre (Montclair State University) in Montclair, NJ
New Performing Arts Seating at Dolan Performance Hall (College of Saint Elizabeth) in Morristown, NJ
New Performing Arts Seating at Dorothy Young PAC (Drew University) in Madison, NJ
New Performing Arts Seating at Elizabeth B. Alton Auditorium (Stockton College) in Galloway, NJ
New Seating at Macrae Theatre at The Pingry School in Martinsville, NJ
Planetarium Seating at Madeline D. and Joseph J. Longo Planetarium (County College of Morris) in Randolph, NJ
Seating Restoration at Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ
Seating Restoration at Indian Hills High School Auditorium in Oakland, NJ
Longo Associates is an authorized dealer of Jasper Library Furniture’s wood library furniture on New Jersey State Contract. Below you will find contract discount percentages and products available under NJ state contract. If you would like an library space evaluation, please call (800) 635-6646 or email info@longoinc.com.
If your school’s auditorium seating looks like the chairs above there is a chance that they may be a candidate for restoration. Longo’s seating restoration services have been serving public schools for over 40 years by bringing yesterday’s seats back to a state of brilliance!
Why Restore Your Auditorium Seating?
What Is The Restoration Process?
Most firms will do not completely “restore” the chair like new. Meaning, they perform painting on the job site, reupholster over existing foam, use inferior foam components, do not provide new internal seat springs, etc.
Longo does a complete chair restoration. We strip chairs down to bare metal and wood. We refinish using the latest in finishing technology. We reupholster using new foam and fabric. That is why we are the very best at auditorium seating restoration!
Please direct all inquiries with regards to school auditorium seating restoration project to the marketing department at Longo (info@longoinc.com). To request a auditorium seating evaluation, email Anthony Stellatos (anthonys@longoinc.com). Longo has been restoring school auditoriums for over 40 years.
Related Website Links & Downloads:
Irwin Seating Auditorium Seating Restoration Brochure
Count Basie Theatre Renovation – Seating Restoration Project in Red Bank, NJ
Longo has been approached by many of our school district clients eager renovate auditoriums into modern theaters, libraries into futuristic media centers, and laboratory classrooms into modern lab space. The question of “funding” always comes up when school building/renovation plans of this magnitude are discussed. We are pleased to announce the availability of the Lease Purchase Bidding Option to New Jersey school districts and municipalities.
Below I have included a description of the “lease purchase bidding” option run by the Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission. I have also included frequently asked questions about “lease purchase bidding” regarding how it works, what can be purchased, and why it is a financially-sound tool available for school districts and municipalities…
Lease Purchase Bidding…What Is It?
Lease Purchase Bidding is a highly specialized area of purchasing; it incorporates a thorough understanding of public purchasing, tax-exempt finance, investment and commercial banking, vendors and suppliers, and how they all fit to optimally finance the particular equipment and projects needs of government entities. Doing it right can save tens of thousands of dollars in interest over the term of a lease purchase. Doing it effectively takes practice and experience.
Heading MRESC’s Lease Purchase Bidding/Financial Advisory Service is Dennis Balodis. He brings over thirty years experience in equipment finance with the last twenty dedicated to tax-exempt lease purchase financing for New Jersey school districts and governmental entities. Dennis developed the Lease Purchase Bidding model in 1994 and has advised and successfully conducted more of these than anyone else in New Jersey. He has long believed that this bidding service should be under the public umbrella to truly optimize the use of tax dollars and has joined the MRESC to provide this service.
To contact: Dennis R. Balodis
Phone: (732) 777-9848, ext. 6622
E-mail: DBalodis@mresc.k12.nj.us
Frequently Asked Questions:
Since both bond and lease purchase are tax-exempt, what is the difference between them?
A bond and a tax-exempt lease purchase both give their investors interest income which is tax free. A bond pledges the full faith and credit of a governmental entity. The bond contractually commits the governmental body to payments that will be made beyond the fiscal year; this guarantees that payments will be made from tax dollars for the life of the issue. Lease purchase payments are made from the current expense portion of the budget. The Lease Purchase Agreement is a series of self-renewing one year contracts and contains a “funding out clause” that will allow for a government to non-appropriate funds and get out of the lease. Although on paper this is all well and good, in reality, we are dealing with tax-exempt issues. An event of non-appropriation for a lease purchase is reported to the bond rating agencies which serves as a major black mark against that entity when they try to get a decent rate for a future bond issue.
Do I need to bid on lease purchase financing?
Lease Purchase must be bid!
“N.J.A.C. 5:34-3.2 Application of Bidding Requirements
(a) All multi-year contracts, including all multi-year leases and multi-year leases with option to purchase, which are authorized under N.J.S.A. 40A:11-15(7), 40A:11-15(15) or 18A:18A-42(f), and other multi-year contracts subject to N.J.S.A. 40A:11-15 and 18A:18A-42 for the procurement of goods or services shall be subject to competitive bidding if the cumulative amount to be expended during the duration of the multi-year lease or contract exceeds the threshold for competitive bidding for the contracting unit.”
What can be lease purchased?
Any equipment or project that is essential to the operation of a governmental entity can be lease purchased. This runs the gamut from computers, technology, musical instruments, buses, vehicles, grounds keeping equipment, to textbooks and roofs.
What cannot be lease purchased?
Disposable or consumable products with a life span of less than one year should not be included.
Can different types of equipment be mixed on the same lease purchase?
Yes, different types of equipment can be put on the same lease. In fact, it is advisable to do so. When bidding for a lease purchase, the objective is to obtain the utility of money and asking a lender to “loan” money to a governmental entity for a period of time. The financial institution is going to make a credit decision on the creditworthiness of the governmental entity and the types of equipment which is considered collateral for the “loan”. The balance of strong (readily re-marketable equipment such as buses, routers and switches, etc.) and soft (less re-marketable equipment such as software licenses, band uniforms, etc.) collateral can enhance the attractiveness of a lease purchase transaction.
Many equipment vendors have financing programs. Since the equipment is purchased off Cooperative Pricing, WSCA, State Contract or other purchasing vehicle, can’t I use their programs?
First, the obvious answer is “no”, since financing is not bid as a separate item. Second, is common sense, when equipment or projects are cooperatively bid, the goal is to get the best volume pricing for the products obtainable in the market. The higher the volume, the cheaper it is to produce. Lease purchase, however, is an individualized “loan” to a governmental entity based upon creditworthiness types of collateral and the size of the individual transaction. If lease purchase was offered as a line item on a bid, the rate offered would have to reflect the weakest credit and the smallest transaction. Unlike commercial transactions, the tax-exempt lease purchase cannot legally be supported by a vendor because it would nullify the tax-exempt status.
Why use lease purchase financing?
A lease purchase is an important financial tool that can be effectively used to limit and cushion the tax impact of equipment and project acquisitions. Each governmental entity has specific and unique fiscal needs. The goal of a well written lease purchase bid is to structure a repayment plan that meets those unique needs while best portraying the entity to the bidding community.
Who is the bidding community?
When shopping for money, you go to the banks and financial institutions that are direct lenders. We believe that the banking community that wants to do business with a governmental entity is the primary target market for lease purchase bids.
Since manufacturers know their products, why can’t they give the best interest rates?
This is tax-exempt finance, the driving force behind the lower interest rates are the ability to shelter income taxes. The tax code only allows a manufacturer to deduct a small portion of the sales price of their goods when lease purchased. Most of the “captive” vendor finance programs are run by banks and finance companies that can take full advantage of the tax deduction. Since these financial companies are brought in by their vendors, there is limited competition; lack of competition equates to higher rates.
Can different equipment that will be delivered, accepted, and paid for over a period of time be put on the same lease purchase?
We are proponents of aggregating all of your financing needs of a year into one lease purchase. The vendors who sell equipment deserve to be paid when their equipment is delivered. To facilitate multiple payments over a period of time, we structure the lease purchase to be funded into an interest bearing escrow account. This permits you to release a series of payments to your vendors when the different deliveries are made and earn interest income from the escrow account.
Project: Fine Arts Center at Delbarton School
Location: Morristown, New Jersey
Design Firm: NK Architects – Architect Project Profile Link – NK Architects excels at helping their educational clients accomplish their facility design objectives with a 38-year history of collaborating to create spaces that inspire learning and support and enhance evolving teaching methodologies assists their clients in attracting the best and brightest faculty and students. Email to Contact NK Architects.
Below is an excerpt from the architect’s website:
Delbarton’s new 36,000 square foot, 630 seat Arts Center is a modern interpretation of the school’s predominantly stone buildings.
Please direct all inquiries with regards to school theater design and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo info@longoinc.com. To request a seating space evaluation, email Anthony Stellatos (anthonys@longoinc.com). Longo has been designing school theaters over 25 years.
Related Website Links & Downloads:
Lecture Hall Seating Projects throughout Rutgers University Campuses
New Performing Arts Seating at Alexander Kasser Theatre (Montclair State University) in Montclair, NJ
New Performing Arts Seating at Dolan Performance Hall (College of Saint Elizabeth) in Morristown, NJ
New Performing Arts Seating at Dorothy Young PAC (Drew University) in Madison, NJ
New Performing Arts Seating at Elizabeth B. Alton Auditorium (Stockton College) in Galloway, NJ
New Seating at Macrae Theatre at The Pingry School in Martinsville, NJ
Planetarium Seating at Madeline D. and Joseph J. Longo Planetarium (County College of Morris) in Randolph, NJ
Seating Restoration at Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ
Seating Restoration at Indian Hills High School Auditorium in Oakland, NJ
Longo Associates is an authorized dealer of Jasper Library Furniture’s wood library furniture on New York State Contract. Below you will find contract discount percentages and products available under NY state contract. If you would like an library space evaluation, please call (800) 635-6646 or email info@longoinc.com.
Contract No. PC64799
$0 – $19,999 – 38%
$20,000 – $49,999 – 40%
$50,000 – $99,999 – 45%
$100,000 – $199,999 – 48%
$200,000+ – 50%
Inside Delivery: Upstate +8% of net, Downstate +10% of net
Warranty: 20 years
Contract Term: October 29, 2007 – October 28, 2012
Products Available:
Wood Library Shelving Website Link, Sherwood Wood Library Shelving Brochure
Wood Library Shelving End Panels Website Link
Wood Reference Desk Website Link, Infinity Reference Desk System Brochure, Wainwright Reference Desk System
Arlington Series Website Link, Arlington Series Brochure for Library Study Tables, Study Carrels and Computer Stations
Barrister Series Website Link for Library Study Tables
Deveraux Series Website Link, Deveraux Series Brochure for Library Study Tables, Study Carrels and Computer Stations
Versailles Series Website Link, Versailles Series Brochure for Library Study Tables, Study Carrels and Computer Stations
JLF Wood Finishes Website Link
Project: Chatham Middle School Media Center – Link to video
Location: Chatham, NJ
Design Firm: DiCara Rubino Architects ; Firm’s website link to Chatham Middle School Media Center
Products: Palmieri Library Furniture
Excerpt from DiCara Rubino’s website:
New 5,400 s.f. state-of-the-art Media Center
Please direct all inquiries with regards to school library planning and construction projects to the marketing department at Longo (info@longoinc.com). To request a library space evaluation, email Anthony Stellatos (anthonys@longoinc.com). Longo has been designing school libraries for over 40 years.
Related Website Links to Longo Library Services & Projects:
Contact Longo for School Library Furniture Design and Planning
Website link for Palmieri Library Furniture
Website link for Palmieri Library Furniture Lines
Website link for Palmieri Library Reference Desks
Project: Auditorium Renovation at Indian Hills High School
Location: Oakland, NJ
Design Firm: DiCara Rubino Architects ; Firm’s website link to Indian Hills High School Project
American School & University’s Interiors Showcase Link for Indian Hills High School
Scope: Auditorium Seating Restoration
Excerpt below is from the SchoolDesigns.com website:
To stay within budget, designers chose to work with the existing furniture and oversaw the refurbishment of each of the 726 auditorium chairs, rather than purchase new seating. The former primary-color rainbow configuration was replaced with elegant navy tone-on-tone checkerboard upholstery, a matte powder-coat finish on the chair structure, and classic wood arms.
Please direct all inquiries with regards to school auditorium seating restoration project to the marketing department at Longo (info@longoinc.com). To request a auditorium seating evaluation, email Anthony Stellatos (anthonys@longoinc.com). Longo has been restoring school auditoriums for over 40 years.
Related Website Links & Downloads:
Irwin Seating Auditorium Seating Restoration Brochure
Count Basie Theatre Renovation – Seating Restoration Project in Red Bank, NJ
New Jersey State approved Co-op #65MCESCCPS
Click above to view our interactive catalog. If you would like to request a printed catalog, please Click Here.
Click above to view our interactive catalog. If you would like to request a printed catalog, please Click Here.
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