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Department of Plant Sciences (Sainsbury Laboratory)

University of Cambridge, Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • The Department of Plant Sciences (Sainsbury Laboratory) is a large building with 3 floors.
    • There are 3 lifts and 3 main staircases in the building.
    • The floors are signed as basement, ground and first.
    • A portable hearing loop is kept in a staff office within the building and can be made available upon request.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
    • The venue has its own car park.
    • The nearest train station is Cambridge.
    • The nearest bus station is Cambridge Bus Station.

Getting Inside

  • On approach to the building there is a very slight slope.
  • Department of Plant Sciences (Sainsbury Laboratory) has 2 entrances.
    Both entrances provide step-free access to the building on the ground floor.
    The main entrance is accessed via a very slight slope and the rear entrance has a ramp on entrance.
  • The main entrance is signed as the Sainsbury Laboratory The university of Cambridge.
    The rear entrance is not signed.
  • The main entrance provides step-free access to the ground floor.
  • The rear entrance accesses the building from the Botanic Gardens.
    This entrance is accessed by a slight slope and has two sets of automatic sliding manual single doors.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the majority of the building.
  • There is a very slight slope towards the front of the building.
    There is a slight slope to access the ground floor laboratory areas from the rear of the building.
    There are upper and lower levels to the first floor, access between these levels is via either a slight slope with handrails on either side or three steps with handrails on either side.
  • There is a single step to access the Acid Store on the ground floor.
    There is a single step to access the Archive store on the basement floor.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
  • There are resting area in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • There is limited wayfinding signage around the building.
  • There are manual doors between the laboratory areas of the building which require key card access, and the areas of the building which do not require key card access.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 4 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located to your left on entrance via the main entrance, towards the right of the building on the ground floor, and towards the front and rear of the building on the first floor on the lower level.
    • All toilets with adaptations have a right hand transfer space.
    • There is a baby change in the accessible toilet towards the right of the building on the ground floor.
    • The shared toilet facilities are located to your left on entrance via the main entrance, towards the right of the building on the ground floor, and towards the front and rear of the building on the first floor on the lower level.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in the accessible toilet towards the right of the building on the ground floor.
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • The shower facilities which have adaptations are located to your left on entering the building via the main entrance.
    • Standard shower facilities are located to your left on entering the building via the main entrance.
    • The shower facilities in the building were undergoing refurbishment at the time of survey 31/07/24.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the left of the building as you face the main entrance.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are signposted but have no markings.
    • There are no hatched/marked zones.
    • The nearest designated bay is 50m from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a very easy ramp or slope.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for Blue Badge holders only.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • The car park consists of two Blue Badge bays only.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via a very easy slope at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 110cm.
  • There is an intercom at a height of 110cm.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 104cm.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second single automatic door.
  • The second door opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 103cm.
  • The second door has a low visual contrast.

Reception

  • The reception is located to your right on entrance.
  • The distance from main entrance is 4m.
  • The most accessible route to reception has uneven surfaces.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 73cm.
  • There is not a lowered section at the desk.
  • The reception has glazed screens.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • The height of the touchscreen display ranges from 92cm to 102cm from the floor.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: chairs without armrests.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located to your left on entrance on the ground floor through the toilet and shower area.
  • The distance from main entrance is 20m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has a very easy ramp or slope and manual doors.
  • The basement, ground and first floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a low visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have a low visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 130cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 140cm (width) x 270cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a high visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a hearing assistance alarm system and a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located in front of you on entrance.
  • The basement, ground and first floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 13cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to your left on entrance to the ground floor.
    • The distance from main entrance is 15m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has a very easy ramp slope.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a low visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 190cm (width) x 200cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 122cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a push button flush on the wall above the cistern.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 50cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 108cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 104cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 167cm and 167cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.