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Baird House

The University of Edinburgh, Pollock Halls of Residence, Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AY

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include a laundry room, a common room and office.

Opening Times (Baird House Office)

  • Monday 08:30 - 15:00.
  • Tuesday 08:30 - 15:00.
  • Wednesday 08:30 - 15:00.
  • Thursday 08:30 - 15:00.
  • Friday 08:30 - 15:00.
  • Saturday Closed.
  • Sunday Closed.

Getting Here

  • By Road View
    • Pollock Halls of Residence is located towards the south of Edinburgh, off Holyrood Park Road and the A7 (Dalkeith Road).
    • The Transport and Parking Office of the University of Edinburgh manages parking at the University. University car parks are for the use of permit holders only and are subject to the university’s parking regulations. Permits are available for visitors to the university.
  • By Bus View
    • Pollock Halls of Residence is served by the numbers 2, 14 and 30 buses stopping at the Royal Commonwealth Pool bus stop on the A7 (Dalkeith Road).
  • By Train View
    • Pollock Halls of Residence is approximately 1.3 miles from Edinburgh Waverley Train Station, the city's main train station. Buses and taxis are available from the station to the site.
  • Useful Links View

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does have its own dedicated parking.
  • Building Car Park View
    • The car park can be used by student permit holders.
    • Parking charges apply for all users.
    • The car park is located in front of the building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
    • The route from the car park to the building is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is / are level changes with no dropped kerbs.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • A key fob is required for access at this entrance.
    • The card reader/lock is in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 85cm (2ft 9in).
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 103cm (3ft 5in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located on the path leading to the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is easy.
    • The ramp is permanent.

Outside Access (Laundry Room)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building, to the left of the main entrance.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 112cm (3ft 8in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is easy.
    • The ramp is permanent.

Reception (Baird House Office)

  • The Baird House Office is located ahead from the main entrance.
  • The desk is 3m (3yd 10in) from the main entrance.
  • The reception area is clearly visible from the entrance.
  • There is step free access to this reception area.
  • The lighting levels in the reception area are moderate to good.
  • The reception desk/counter is high (110cm+).
  • There is not a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
  • The desk is not staffed.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Inside Access

  • There is level access to the service.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • This venue does not play background music.
  • The lighting levels are varied.

Common Room

  • The common room is located to the rear right of the building as you enter the main entrance.
  • There are sofas and chairs.
  • The sofas have armrests on both sides.
  • Some of the chairs have armrests.
  • Some of the sofas are three seaters, some are two seaters.
  • The sofas and chairs are not fixed.
  • There are tables.
  • The height of the lowest table is 25cm
  • The height of the highest table is 97cm.
  • The majority of the tables are 97cm.
  • There is a table tennis table.
  • There is a wall mounted television.
  • There is a piano.
  • Some of the furniture is fixed.

Laundry

  • There are 3 washing machines and 3 dryers in the laundry room.
  • The controls are 58cm from the front of the machine.
  • The detergent slot is located on the top of the washing machines.
  • The height to the detergent slot is 95cm.
  • The washing machines are front loading.
  • The height to the door latch is 91cm.
  • There are 2 low level dryers and one high level dryer.
  • The high level dryer shares controls with the low level dryer beneath it.
  • The controls are 58cm from the front of the machine.
  • The height of the shared control panel is 110-122cm.
  • The dryers are front opening.
  • The height of the low level dryer door latches are 75cm and 92cm
  • The height of the high level dryer door latch is 165cm.
  • The machines are pay as you go, not coin operated.

Other Floors (South Wing)

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G-1-2-3-4.
    • The stairs are located ahead to the left from the main entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 4m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the stairwell on all floors.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on the left going up.
    • There is a landing.
    • There are similar stairs in the North wing.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located ahead to the left as you enter the main entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G-1-2-3-4.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The lift is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 73cm (2ft 5in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 139cm x 100cm (4ft 7in x 3ft 3in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does not have an audible announcer.
  • The lift does not have a hearing loop system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The controls are 110cm - 131cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is medium.

Accommodation (432)

  • Location of Accessible Accommodation View
    • The establishment provides 1 accessible accommodation facilities with an ensuite and/or separate accessible bathroom.
    • This information refers to Room 432.
    • The accessible facilities are located on the fourth floor in the south wing.
    • There is level access from an accessible entrance.
    • This is by lift.
    • The room number viewed was 432.
    • The width of the door to the room is 68cm (2ft 3in).
    • The dimensions of the clear floor space are 100cm x 258cm (3ft 3in x 8ft 6in).
    • The bed is 54cm high.
    • The measurement between the bed base and floor is 32cm (1ft 1in).
    • Light switches are not within 120cm (4ft) from floor level.
    • There is not a functional emergency alarm in the room.
    • No emergency alarm is fitted in the room.
    • Assistance dogs are welcome to stay with residents in accessible accommodation.
  • Accessible Bathroom View
    • The information relates to the shared bathroom.
    • The dimensions of the bathroom are 125cm x 254cm (4ft 1in x 8ft 4in).
    • The door opens inwards.
    • The width of the door to the bathroom is 61cm.
    • The door weight is heavy.
    • There is not a functional emergency alarm in the bathroom.
    • No emergency alarm is fitted in the bathroom.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 45cm (1ft 6in).
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm in height.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the wash basin is 83cm (2ft 9in).
    • There is not a mixer tap.
    • The tap type is twist/turn.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • The measurement of lateral transfer space is 70cm (2ft 4in).
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • There is no dropdown rail.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • Wall mounted grab rails are not available for the toilet.
    • There are mirrors.
    • The mirrors are not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • Disposal facilities are available.
  • Bath and Shower View
    • There is a bath.
    • The height of the side of the bath from floor level is 55cm (1ft 10in).
    • The tap type is twist/turn.
    • There is not a mixer tap.
    • There is not a shower over the bath.
  • Wheel In Shower View
    • There is not a wheel in shower.
  • Colour contrast and lighting in accessible rooms View
    • The colour contrast between the external room door and wall is high.
    • The colour contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • The colour contrast between the internal room door and wall is high.
    • The lighting levels are adjustable.
  • Colour contrast and lighting in accessible bathroom View
    • The colour contrast between the internal bathroom door and wall is medium.
    • The colour contrast between the walls and floor in the bathroom is high.
    • Lighting levels are medium.
  • Auxiliary Aids - General View
    • Some of the rooms have auxiliary aids for people with sensory impairments.
    • Available auxiliary aids include flashing alarms.
    • Flashing fire alarms are in rooms.
  • Ground Floor Rooms View
    • Ground floor rooms do have level access.
    • Rooms are located throughout the north and south wings.
    • Adjoining rooms are not available.
  • Standard Rooms on Other Floors View
    • There are standard rooms on other floors.
    • The other floors can be accessed by lift.
    • There is level access to standard rooms on other floors.
    • Adjoining rooms are not available.

Standard Shower (4th Floor South Wing)

  • Shower facilities are available.
  • The shower(s) surveyed is/are located in the standard toilets in each floor and wing.
  • Comments View
    • There is 1 deep step to enter the shower cubicle.
    • The shower head is fixed height.
    • The shower controls are twist/turn.

Toilet with Adaptations

  • There are accessible toilet facilities within this venue.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is not for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 8m (8yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is located along the right hand corridor leading to the common room, behind the office.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a unisex toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a lever twist.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 88cm (2ft 11in).
    • The door is heavy.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 145cm x 271cm (4ft 9in x 8ft 11in).
    • There is not a clear 150cm x 150cm manoeuvring space in the accessible toilet.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 79cm (2ft 7in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency pull cord alarm in the cubicle.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is not fully functional.
    • The alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are waste paper pedal bin disposal units.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall-mounted grab rails are available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is not a mirror.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 44cm (1ft 5in).
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 121cm (3ft 12in).
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is fair.
    • There is a fair colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are medium.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Location of Standard Toilet(s) View
    • There are male and female standard toilets facilities on the ground floor.
    • There are shared standard toilets facilities on the first floor, the second floor, the third floor and the fourth floor.
  • Standard Toilet Surveyed View
    • A female standard toilet was surveyed.
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor, in the corridor to the right as you enter, leading to the common room.
    • There is a male standard toilet in the same location.
    • There is step free access to the standard toilet(s) surveyed from the entrance.
    • The standard toilet surveyed is approximately 5m from the main entrance.
    • There is not a/are not cubicle(s) suitable for ambulant disabled people in the standard toilet(s) surveyed.
    • Lighting levels in the standard toilet surveyed are good.