March 28, 2017
Site Furniture Placement Guidelines
When it comes to site furniture, product placement matters. We talk frequently about the design and aesthetics of our products, but it is also important to discuss installation and location. Today we offer some general guidelines to consider when determining where to install benches, litter receptacles and bike racks.
Benches
Site furnishings add the finishing touch to a site. For benches, consider the types of areas where that finishing touch is needed and the function that a bench could serve.
- Waiting - Whether people are waiting in a lobby of a building, at a bus stop, to meet a friend or while a partner shops, always provide seating to keep guests comfortable.
- Watching - Sometimes a favorite pastime can be people watching. In a park, on a streetscape or at a mall, allow benches for those who like to stop and enjoy their surroundings.
- Resting - Provide rest for the weary. At a location such as an amusement park or on a hiking trail, people often need to take a break. Strategically placed benches can meet that need. How many you need depends on the crowds. For instance a busy park may need large clusters of benches whereas a quiet trail may just need one every 100 yards.
As a rule of thumb, if you want pedestrians to stay longer, socialize and enjoy the space, install benches based off of demand and expected crowds. Benches with backs are most common for comfort, but flat benches offer great flexibility in how the seating is used. If you want people to stay and relax but not necessarily sleep, consider customizing with center arms to deter vagrancy.
Litter Receptacles
The importance of litter receptacles is obvious – when used properly, they keep trash out of sight. In many public spaces, they are a necessity.
- Eating Areas - Where there is food, there is trash. In a food court, in picnic areas, outside restaurants or near food trucks – visible and frequently placed trash cans are needed to encourage people to clean up after themselves.
- Entrances - Encourage people to get rid of trash before entering a building or on their way out by always placing receptacles near doors.
- Streetscapes and Parks - In busy public spaces with high pedestrian traffic, the more trash cans and recycling containers you install, the better chance of achieving clean street initiatives.
When in doubt, follow the Disney philosophy. Walt Disney did his own research to determine how many steps people took before they needed a trash can. The story goes that in one experiment, Walt ate a hot dog and went 30 steps before he was done. Therefore, if you are deciding on litter receptacle placement, follow Disney and install trash cans every 30 feet.
Bike Racks
In order to encourage alternate transportation, bike racks should be installed at building entrances, public parks, schools and anywhere else where bicycle commuting is a consideration. Some basic short-term bicycle parking guidelines according to the Association of Bicycle and Pedestrian Professionals are as follows. Check your local codes and ordinances to be sure.
- Install in a location within 50 ft from an entrance. Bike racks should be easily visible and the intended use obvious.
- Anchor securely to a sturdy surface such as concrete.
- Aim for a 6 ft clear space from the building to allow an open walkway. Keeping bike racks in line with other sidewalk obstructions will help maintain an appropriate through zone.
- Install 2 - 3 ft from the curb or street.
- When using a basic inverted-U style rack, keep a 3 - 4 ft space between bike racks side to side and 6 ft front to back.
Properly installed bike racks can ensure safe places for biking enthusiasts to park and lock their bicycles. If you follow placement recommendations and guidelines, you encourage a biker-friendly and walkable community.
Ultimately, the goal of site furniture is to make public spaces walkable, interactive, functional and aesthetically inviting. Proper placement is a key element in creating these spaces. For further information, give Keystone Ridge Designs a call and create space with us.
ARCHIVES
- Designing Cohesive Outdoor Spaces with Coordinating Site Furnishings
- The Role of Benches in Public Spaces: More Than Just Seating
- Site Furnishings With Custom Colors - Creativity With Color
- American Makers: Celebrating Our Site Furniture Manufacturing Team
- Love Letter To Litter Receptacles
- The Unique Beauty And Benefits Of Wood-Grain Aluminum By Keystone Ridge Designs
- Keystone Ridge Designs Celebrates World Landscape Architecture Month
- Sustainability At Keystone Ridge Designs
- Mix And Match Site Furniture Designs
- Planning For Planters
- Downtown Decorations: Deck The Streets With Benches & Holly
- Customized Site Furniture Solutions: How To Tailor Site Furnishings To Fit Your Space
- The Making Of A Streetscape
- Powder Coating Perfection
- Project Highlight - UPMC Mercy Pavilion
- Sing A Song Of Site Furnishings
- Transit and Bus Stop Furnishings
- Project Highlight - Latrobe, PA
- Litter Receptacle Lid Options
- Site Furniture Design Details
- Park Furniture
- What's New for 2023
- Trade Show Trips and Trends
- Giving Thanks And Giving Back
- What Are Site Furnishings?
- #FridayFabrication
- Outdoor Furniture For Schools
- Keystone Ridge Designs Top Sellers
- Site Furniture & Urban Design
- Production With Purpose
- Outdoor Chairs for Public Spaces
- Project Highlight: Cape May County Open Spaces
- Site Furniture Sets
- Residential Development Outdoor Trends
- ASLA Expo Recap
- 25 Years of Outdoor Furniture (Part II)
- Healthcare Site Furniture Trends
- Project Highlight - The Highline Pittsburgh
- Tips For Buying A Memorial Bench
- Zoo Furnishings
- Guide To Custom Signage And Graphics
- Outdoor Church Furniture
- Site Furniture Standards
- What Is A bollard?
- Outdoor Furniture For Ski Resorts
- Commercial Outdoor Furniture Trends for 2021
- 2020 Greatest Hits In Site Furnishings
- Design Timeline - Patented Site Furniture
- Spotlight On Garden Furniture
- 25 Years Of Outdoor Furniture
- Unique Outdoor Spaces
- Tips For Choosing Commercial Outdoor Table Sets
- Project Highlight - Longevity Bench Project
- Promoting Healthy Outdoor Spaces
- Signs Of Spring
- Project Highlight - Pianos About Town
- Powder Coating Color Trends
- All-Weather Site Furnishings
- Top 6 Traditional Commercial Bench Designs
- Top 9 Modern Outdoor Benches For Commercial Settings
- Made In The Shade: Choosing The Best Commercial-Grade Umbrella
- Outdoor Seating Alternatives: Think Outside The Bench
- Project Highlight - The Tracks At Brea
- Sites Of Summer
- Fundraising With Furnishings
- Durable Site Furniture - What Does That Mean?
- Customization 102
- New For 2019
- How It's Made
- Fall Photos And Furnishings
- Site Furnishings For Senior Living
- Project Highlight - Echo Park Lake
- Park Bench Workout
- Site Furniture And Planning For Public Safety
- The Art Of Bike Racks
- Site Furniture Materials 101
- What's New?
- Project Highlight - Carson City Revitalization
- Reducing Waste - It Takes All Sorts
- Putting The Fun In Furniture
- Site Furniture Placement Guidelines
- Project Highlight - City Of Weston, FL
- Focus On Photography
- Thankful At Thanksgiving
- How To Accessorize Your Landscape
- Why Powder Coat?
- Top 5 Unusual Customizations
- Site Furniture For Kids
- Customization 101
- Project Highlight - McCandless Crossing
- How To Save Money On Site Furniture
- Christmas With Keystone Ridge Designs
- Retail Branding
- Halloween Costume Ideas
- The Benefits Of Steel Site Furniture
- A Campus Standard - Why It's Important
- Guide To Plaques
- Four Trends In Site Furniture