It can also be used for holding public lectures or as a gymnasium for school students. School halls’ existence dates back to almost one hundred and fifty years. Very often, a school hall is also used by the community members for various educational, cultural or social purposes. Thus, the size of a school hall is to be determined on the basis of its uses and functions as well as on the basis of enrolment capacity of the school.
It should be large enough to accommodate at least half the number of students enrolled in the school. The school hall should be located on the ground floor and should be easily accessible from all the classrooms as well as from outside the school. It should be preferably located in a separate wing so that while it is being used, classes do not get disturbed due to noise and crowds. It should be made sound-proof. There should be parking facilities outside or near the school hall.
A good auditorium must have good acoustics. There should be a speaker’s stand and a few chairs for the presiding officer and others. There should be a mike and speakers in the hall. The hall should be constructed in such a way that the speaker’s voice is clearly heard in the entire hall without strain or echoes. The acoustics and the appearance of the hall can be improved using appropriate special plaster, curtains, wall hangings and absorbent ceilings. The lighting facilities in the hall should be flexible.
There should be facilities for increasing or decreasing the intensity of light and changing its color. Adequate facilities of flood light and spot light should be available. The hall should have a screen and good audiovisual equipment which can be used for showing educational as well as entertainment films. A specific space must be reserved for film projectors.
The stage in the hall should be of adequate size and should be at an appropriate height. There should be sufficient off-stage space as well as at least two green rooms one for boys and another for girls and a toilet. There should be adequate number of chairs permanently kept in the hall to be utilized at short notice. Sometimes it is necessary to vacate the hall if the students are to be seated on the floor of the hall. Hence, the chairs to be used in a hall should be of folding type. The wails of the hall should be well painted and adorned with pictures and photos of great men or scenes.
If the shape of the school building looks like ‘ E’, the middle wing should ideally consist of the school hall.
