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Alison House

The University of Edinburgh, Central Campus, 12 Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9DF

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Basement - Practice Rooms,
    Ground Floor - Teaching Room, offices Organ Suite
    First Floor - Computer Microlab, Sound Lab, Student Common Room, Listening Room, Reading Room, Archive Room
    Second Floor - Lecture A & B, Faculty Room, Seminar Room
    Third Floor - Staff and Postgraduate, Offices.

Rooms and Spaces Links

Getting Here

  • By Road View
    • The Central Area is located on the south side of the city centre. Traffic congestion can be a problem, and parking is strictly controlled. Options to driving into the city centre include Park & Ride tram and bus car parks at the edges of the city.
    • A number of University car parks are located in the Central Area. 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
    • Buses from all over the city travel to the Central Area of the university. The University also provides a shuttle bus for staff and students between the Central Area and the King's Buildings. The majority of buses are operated by Lothian Buses. Up to the minute "real time" bus timetable information is now available at the majority of bus stops across the city. Information panels provided next to the majority of bus stops let you know when the next bus services will be arriving, or if there has been a delay.
  • By Train View
    • The Central Area of the university is 0.7 miles from Edinburgh Waverley Station. It should be noted that some of the walking routes may feature paths with steep gradients or steps given the landscape. Edinburgh has rail links throughout the UK. The East Coast mainline, which links Edinburgh and London King’s Cross, is the UK's fastest intercity railway: you can travel between the cities in around 4 hours. A sleeper service runs between London Euston and Edinburgh Waverley 6 nights a week. There are intercity links to other cities including Glasgow (45 minutes), and York, Newcastle or Aberdeen (all 2 hours). All trains arrive at Waverley Station in the centre of the city, although some trains also stop at Haymarket, which is a smaller station in the West End.
  • By Tram View
    • The Edinburgh tram service runs from Edinburgh Airport in the west, to York Place in the east end of the city centre, presently being extended to Leith north east of the city centre. The nearest stop to the Central Campus Area is Princes Street. The nearest stop to the Lauriston Campus and the ECA buildings, or to the Western General site, is West End.
  • Useful Links View

Useful Information

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off Nicolson Square.
    • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 90cm (2ft 11in).
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 126cm (4ft 2in).
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the card reader/lock is 109cm (3ft 7in).
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 144cm (4ft 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 double.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 148cm (4ft 10in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located to the right as you face the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
    • The ramp is permanent.
    • There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.
    • The ramp does have handrails.
    • The handrails are on both sides.
    • The width of the ramp is 104cm (3ft 5in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is / are 5 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the step(s).
    • The step(s) is / are not clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The handrails are on the left going up the step(s).

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the ground floor.
    • There is a slight ramp, with no handrails, for access to organ practice suite, music store, studio managers office, staff offices, lift and ground floor toilets.
    • The width of the ramp is 108cm (3ft 7in).
    • The ramp can be seen in photograph 1.
    • There is a steep ramp, with handrails on both sides, for access to Practice Rooms B.27-B.28 - B.31-B.35 and the Electrocoustic Music Studios.
    • There are not doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is clearly written, tactile and pictorial directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • Music practice can be heard on the basement floor due to the presence of the music practice room.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are B-G-1-2.
    • The stairs are located to your left on entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 7m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the stairwell on the ground floor, on the first floor, on the second floor and on the third floor.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
    • 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 not a landing.
    • The main staircase only goes from floors G-1-2. There is a separate staircase to the rear of the building from B-G with a handrail on the left. This can be seen in photograph 3. There is a staircase from G-1 with a handrail to the left. This can be seen in photograph 4. There are two alternate staircases between the second and third floors. One has handrails on both sides the other to the right only. The first of these can be seen in photograph 5.

Lift

  • There is not a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the rear left of the building.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are B-G-1-2.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The lift is approximately 32m (34yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
  • The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 108cm x 132cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 4in).
  • 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 have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is bright.
  • Comments View
    • The use of this lift is not generally encouraged. It is generally reserved for staff and students with mobility impairments.

Accessible Toilet

  • 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 no signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is located to the rear left of the building.
    • There is not 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 twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 92cm (3ft).
    • The door is heavy.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 180cm x 222cm (5ft 11in x 7ft 3in).
    • There is 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 both sides.
    • The lateral transfer space is 91cm (2ft 12in).
    • There are dropdown rails on both sides of the toilet.
    • 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 fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and open waste paper 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 a mirror.
    • Mirrors are not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • 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 placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 82cm (2ft 8in).
  • 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 good.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are bright.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Location of Standard Toilet(s) View
    • There are male and female standard toilets facilities on the basement floor.
    • There are shared standard toilets facilities on the ground floor.
  • Standard Toilet Surveyed View
    • A shared standard toilet was surveyed.
    • The toilet surveyed is located at the end of the corridor to your left on entrance.
    • There is step free access to the standard toilet(s) surveyed from the entrance.
    • The standard toilet surveyed is approximately 12m 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.