I would be interested in the book mentioned when it is published.

We helped give advice on a recent higher education project that included a
lecture theatre that was also to be used as a film theatre. Things to
consider are as mentioned a range of options for seating areas for
wheelchair users in differing positions of the theatre - front, back and
middle. People like to sit in differing locations an also want to get to
those seats without having to travel in front of the lecturer if arriving
late. You also need to think about work surface arrangement for taking notes
for these spaces. Sometimes removable writing tablets are used, but how do
these work in the space provided for a wheelchair user? Also will the
wheelchair user may require a note taker person at their side and will this
also require power for a laptop?

You need to think about induction loop or infrared bean systems and possible
interference from unsuppressed electrical systems on induction loop and
bright stage lights on infrared. Also if palantypists are being provided
they will need access to power points for laptops next to the person they
are providing instantaneous transcription for and is this going to be hooked
into the network so that it can be projected onto a screen in the theatre? I
went to an event where most speakers had heavy Scottish accents fortunately
for me I was behind the palantypist and the deaf person with the laptop so I
managed to follow it by reading the transcription. Space and lighting should
provided for sign language interpreter to stand at a suitable point to sign
to the audience and the background to this area needs to be plain and not
backlit. Need to think about acoustics generally so that people can hear
each other - an induction loop is fine if the lecturer uses a mike which can
also be hooked up to a pa system, but what about questions from the
audience.

Avoid raised platform for lecturer as you then end up with ramps and steps
which bite into the circulation space and ensure that all controls and
lecterns are accessible, i.e. 800 -1200mm height range with space to get at
them and visible if using a wheelchair (a series of horizontal buttons at
eye level mean you cannot see what is written on them, and easy to use
buttons, good colour contrast etc. Overhead projectors need to be on height
adjustable surface to allow comfortable positioning. Whiteboards need to be
at a height that everyone can use - why does the person who fixes them
assume that lecturers are all in excess of 2 metres tall? Also why not
consider one of the new smart whiteboard systems that automatically takes
the writing into a computer package that allows students a copy afterwards.
One lecture theatre I usd had a neat device that when you pressed the button
to switch on the lcd projector or OHP it automatically brought down the
screen and dimmed the lights accordingly.

Any projection or control rooms at the rear of the lecture theatre need to
be accessible and have accessible controls. In the one we were advising on
they slipped a raised platform on one drawing when they realised that the
film projector would not shine over the heads of the audience so after some
discussion we managed get the floor level again by rearranging the seats
directly in front of the projection box - this meant there was still the
same number of seats just in a different configuration.

These are just some initial thoughts and I hope they help.