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Gym

Downing College, Regent Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 1DQ

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Access Guide

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Getting To and Around Downing College

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Downing College is situated in Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the campus is located on Regent Street. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • Downing College has limited on-site car parking. The main parking area is located along North Range where there are 5 Blue Badge parking pays. There are some Fellows' parking bays in the area behind the Lord Butterfield Bar & Café but they were blocked off at the time of the survey. The College also leases parking for postgraduates outside some of the buildings on Lensfield Road. Students are generally not permitted to use cars in the immediate locality unless given permission based on specific requirements.
    • Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. At Downing College there are many sheltered cycle stands available on-site along the North Range access road and also in the service yard outside Battcock Lodge.
    • For more information on getting to Downing College by road please click here (opens new tab).
    • For more information on cycle routes and maps in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Bus View
  • By Train View
  • Accessing the College Site View
    • The main pedestrian entrance to the College site is located on Regent Street. Access is via a single pedestrian gate with a card reader which is situated to the left of the vehicular entrance. The gate may be difficult for some to open and has an opening width of 100cm. The height of the card reader is 102cm.
    • Pedestrians can also access the site via the Howard Gate, which is a pedestrian entrance situated in the Downing site of the University of Cambridge. The gate opens automatically away from you and is activated by either pressing the button (height 112cm) or using the card reader (height 110cm). The card reader must be used outside the hours of 10.00 – 16.30.
    • Key card holders can also access the site via a pedestrian gate in Lensfield Road between Buildings 34 and 36. The gate is single, opens away from you (push) and may be difficult for some to open. The height of the card reader is 115cm and the opening width of the gateway is 110cm. There is a short steep downhill slope along the path just beyond this entrance.
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • If you have accessed the College site by vehicle and parked in the designated Blue Badge Bays in the North Range area there is open step-free access to the network of paths around external areas of the Downing College site. The site is mostly level with wide paths (150cm+), but path surfaces do vary. The paths that run around the large central grass area (The Quadrangle and The Paddock) have a gravel surface that may not be suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments. Other areas have surfaced paths of various types (flagstone paving, tarmac, concrete, block paving and resin bound gravel). Most of the surfaced paths have a flat, smooth surface except some in the area outside Kenny A which is slightly uneven.
    • There is stepped access to the West Lodge Garden. The steps do not have handrails. The external parts of the site are otherwise step-free except for access into buildings.
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Downing College have stepped access into and around them. Due to the age of the buildings the staircases do vary in materials and layout. The height and depths of steps are not uniform and neither is lighting, handrail provision/type or step markings. There are some buildings which have been adapted to make them step-free, including access ramps to bypass external steps and internal lifts to access other floors. Please see our Detailed Access Guides for further information on access to buildings.
    • There is not much directional signage around the site which means those unfamiliar with the layout will need an escort or a map to reference. Accessible toilet facilities are located in the Porters’ Lodge and B Stair near the Dining Hall.
    • There are some bollards along paths and access routes. All bollards have a good colour contrast with the path surfaces. The width between the bollards is at least 90cm.

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park (North Range Parking)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off Regent Street, past the Porters' Lodge, along the access road behind the Chapel.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are those at the north side of the site.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
    • There is/are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 245cm x 470cm.
    • The Blue Badge parking bays do not have a marked zone around them.
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by permit holders.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is a campus map available within the car park.
  • Comments View
    • The car park surface is mostly resin bound gravel with some loose gravel surface electric vehicle and standard parking bays.
    • There are 8 electric vehicle charging points.

Getting To (The Gym)

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • This entrance gives access to the ground floor of the gym.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Gym'.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the key card reader is 137cm.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are single width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 80cm.
  • Step(s) View
    • The step(s) is/are located in the doorway.
    • There is/are 1 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 20cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between 30cm and 45cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • Comments View
    • You are required to use a key card to swipe out of the building. The key card reader is at a height of 123cm.

Gym

  • There is step-free access to the gym.
  • There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the gym.
  • The door(s) open(s) away from you.
  • The width of the door opening is 70cm.
  • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
  • The door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
  • The gym is not staffed.
  • There is not an emergency alarm in the gym.
  • There is clear manoeuvring space between equipment.
  • There is level access to all of the equipment.
  • In this area there are chairs without armrests available.
  • Background music is not played.
  • The flooring in the gym consists of wood.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system is not signed.
  • Lighting levels are good.

Standard Shower (Ground Floor)

  • Shower facilities are available.
  • The shower(s) surveyed is/are located to the right after you enter.
  • There is not level access to the shower facilities.
  • There is a deep step to access the shower.

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Stairs can be used to access other floors.
    • The stairs are located to the left after you enter.
    • The stairs are approximately 3m from the entrance.
    • The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
    • There are 12 steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 20cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The steps are not clearly marked.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
    • Handrails are not at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
    • Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    • Handrails are easy to grip.
    • Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
    • There is not a landing.
    • Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels at the steps are good.
  • Other Information View
    • The area(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are the first floor balcony and the toilet facilities.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located between the MCR and the Dining Hall and Servery.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The shared toilet is located on the first floor of the building, to the right at the top of the stairs.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 10m from the top of the stairs.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is high.
    • There is no signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 80cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.