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Department of Archaeology (West Building)

University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 3ER

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Access Guide

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Introduction

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is a site/campus car park for staff and visitors within approximately 200m.
    • The name of the car park is Downing Site Parking.
    • The car park is located around the Downing Site with a Blue Badge bay to rear of the Courtyard Building.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
    • The name of the car park is Grand Arcade Car Park.
    • The car park is located within the Grand Arcade.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Site/Campus Car Park

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located around the Downing Site with a Blue Badge bay located to the rear of the Courtyard Building.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Department of Archaeology (Courtyard Building McDonald Institute) and the Sedgwick Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is concrete.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 250cm x 615cm (8ft 2in x 20ft 2in).
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by Blue Badge holders, permit holders and staff permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are not provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is sloped access to the car park from the Downing Site.
    • The nearest designated bay is 25m (27yd 1ft) from the Courtyard Building main entrance.
  • Comments View
    • There is car parking located throughout the Downing Site.
    • Car parking is restricted and over-subscribed.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • 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 card reader/lock is 95cm (3ft 1in).
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The width of the door opening is 160cm (5ft 3in).

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There are no 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 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 moderate to good.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • There are push pad automated doors from the main entrance to reach the accessible toilet and to access the ground floor corridor.
    • These have a width of 95cm. The push pads are at a height of 95cm (photographs 5 and 6).

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are B, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
    • The stairs are located to your right on entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 5m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, single doors which may be difficult to open to access the stairwell on the basement floor and from the first floor upwards.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • The steps are not clearly marked.
    • The steps are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.
  • Comments View
    • There is a door to access the stairs from the ground to basement floor but not the stairs from the ground to the first floor.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to your right on entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are B, G, 1, 2, 3 and 4.
  • Wall mounted information boards are provided at lift landings.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 750kg.
  • 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 110cm (3ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 130cm x 138cm (4ft 3in x 4ft 6in).
  • 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 have an audible announcer.
  • The lift has a hearing enhancement system.
  • The lift does not 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.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located to your right on entrance to the building, beyond the door leading to the steps to the basement floor.
  • Male standard toilet facilities are located on the basement floor to your left on exiting the lift. Additional male standard toilets are located on the landing between the second and third floors..
  • Shared standard toilet facilities are located on the landing between the first and second floors..
  • Female standard toilet facilities are located on the landing between the third and fourth floors..

Accessible Toilet(s) (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located to your right on entrance in the stairwell from the ground to the basement floor.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 7m (7yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is required for the accessible toilet.
    • The key is not a radar key.
    • The key can be obtained from the Courtyard Building McDonald Institute (Department of Archaeology) Reception.
    • There is tactile and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The door opens outwards (automatically).
    • The door is push pad or push button activated.
    • The push pad or push button is 100cm from floor level.
    • The door is locked by a push button or pad.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 87cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 138cm x 182cm (4ft 6in x 5ft 12in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 86cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 72cm (2ft 4in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • There is not an emergency alarm.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are general waste (with lid) disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 152cm from the floor.
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a wall which acts as a backrest.
    • There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 42cm (1ft 5in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 95cm (3ft 1in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is poor.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the left hand side of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is not a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • There is a handheld soap dispenser available.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the towel dispenser is 117cm.
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is poor.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 122cm (4ft).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is poor.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The male toilet is located to your left on exiting the lift.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s), via lift.
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 6m from the lift.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 84cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.
  • Toilet Facilities 2 View
    • The shared toilet is located on the landing between the first and second floors of the staircase.
    • There is stepped access into the toilet(s).
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is poor.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is available.
    • There are horizontal wall mounted rails available on both sides of the toilet.
    • The ambulant toilet does not have vertical wall mounted grab rails.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.