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Language Centre (Old Music School)

University of Cambridge, Downing Place, Cambridge , CB2 3EL

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Ground Floor - Language School Reception, Library and Teaching Rooms
    First Floor - Teaching Rooms and Staff Offices.

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does have its own dedicated parking.
  • Building Car Park View
    • The car park can be used by Blue Badge holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • The car park is located off Downing Place.
    • 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.
    • There is/are 1 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 345cm x 720cm (11ft 4in x 23ft 7in).
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do need to be booked in advance.
    • The nearest designated bay is 8m (8yd 2ft) from the accessible entrance.
    • 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 slopes/ramps.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.
  • Comments View
    • The Blue Badge parking bay detailed is not the property of the Language Centre and is often used by contractors for both the Centre itself and other departments in the building adjacent. Therefore availability of parking is not guaranteed.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • There is a bell/buzzer.
    • The height of the bell/buzzer is 145cm (4ft 9in).
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 138cm (4ft 6in).
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are double (with one leaf locked).
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 70cm (2ft 4in).
  • 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 1 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 not have handrails.

Outside Access (Accessible Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front right of the building.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is an intercom.
    • The height of the intercom is 106cm (3ft 6in).
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the card reader/lock is 96cm (3ft 2in).
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (away from you).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is / are push pad activated.
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located along the path between the first and second doors.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.
    • The ramp is permanent.
  • Comments View
    • The first door provides access to a path round the back of the building where the second entrance door is located.
    • The path between the doors can be seen in photograph 4.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the ground floor.
    • There is a slight ramp, with no handrails, for access to the reception and the library.
    • The ramp or slope does not bypass the step(s).
    • To access the both the reception and the library there is a set of heavy double doors with a single door locked with a width of 54cm. These are located to your left via the accessible entrance and are shown in photograph 1. The ramp is located just beyond these doors (shown in photograph 2).
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is not 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 good.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is a hearing assistance system.
    • The system is a portable loop.
    • There is a portable loop which can be made available upon request.
    • The hearing system is available only on request.
    • Staff are trained to use the hearing system.

Reception

  • The main reception is located on the ground floor beyond the ramp located to your left on entrance via the accessible entrance.
  • The desk is 6m (6yd 1ft) from the accessible entrance.
  • Clear signage for the reception area is not visible from the entrance.
  • There is ramped access to this reception area.
  • The lighting levels in the reception area are bright.
  • The reception desk/counter is low (76cm or lower).
  • There is not a clear knee recess beneath the low/lowered counter.
  • The desk is staffed.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Library

  • This library does not have a regular supply of books in Braille.
  • This library does not have a regular supply of books in large print.
  • This library does not have a regular supply of books in audio format.
  • There is not an ordering service.
  • The library does not have computers with accessible software.
  • Auxiliary aids are available for computer users.
  • A height adjustable chair is / are available.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G and 1.
    • The stairs are located down the corridor to your right on entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 11m from the accessible entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the stairwell on the ground floor.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
    • There is a landing.
    • There is a similar set of stairs in front of you via the main entrance with a handrail to the right. These can be seen in photograph 3.
      There is another set of stairs located to the right of the building which have handrails on both sides. This can be seen in photograph 4. Both these sets of stairs are for staff use only.
  • Other View
    • The area(s)/service(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are offices and teaching rooms 3 and 4.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located to your right on entrance to the building via the accessible entrance.
  • Male standard toilet facilities are located in the main entrance foyer on the ground floor..
  • Female standard toilet facilities are located to your right on entrance to the building via the accessible entrance..
  • Shared standard toilet facilities are located to the right of the building beyond the library on the ground and in the staff only area of the building on the first floor. Both these sets of toilets are reserved for staff use only..

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located to your right on entrance.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the accessible entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is good.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 210cm x 190cm (6ft 11in x 6ft 3in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • 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 135cm (4ft 5in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a female sanitary bin and 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 an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are female sanitary and pedal bin disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • There are coat hooks in the toilet at 173cm and 178cm 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 backrest.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 47cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 105cm (3ft 5in).
    • 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).
    • 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 a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 103cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 103cm (3ft 5in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is good.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The male toilet is located in the main entrance foyer.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 7m from the accessible entrance.
    • 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 80cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is lever mixer.
    • Lighting levels are good.