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Department of Zoology (Austin Building)

University of Cambridge, New Museums Site , Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Services / facilities within the building include Offices, Workshops, and Laboratories.
  • The south wing connects to the Cockcroft Building on the ground floor. The south wing staircase and lift access the Cockcroft Buildings first, second, third and fourth floors.
  • Cockcroft Building link (new tab) - click here.

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 the David Attenborough Car Park.
    • The car park is located next to the Austin Building, Student Services Buildings and David Attenborough Buildings within the new museums campus.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
    • The name of the car park is the Grand Arcade car park.
    • The car park is located within the Grand Arcade Shopping Centre.
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and/or standard marked parking bays are available.
    • The on street standard parking bay(s) is/are located on Free School Lane.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Site/Campus Car Park (David Attenborough Building)

  • Car Park View
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are the David Attenborough Building, Student Services Centre, Austin Building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 300cm x 600cm (9ft 10in x 19ft 8in).
    • The dimensions of the designated bays do vary in size.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by 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 David Attenborough Building.
    • This car park is not clearly signposted from the David Attenborough Building.
    • The nearest designated bay is 3m (3yd 10in) from the David Attenborough Building front entrance lift.

Outside Access (South Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front left of the building.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • There is not 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) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 220cm (7ft 3in).
  • 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) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 170cm (5ft 7in).
  • Comments View
    • Between these entrance doors is a lift which accesses the Cockcroft Building on the first, second, third and fourth floor. The lift can be seen in photograph 3.
    • It does not access any other floors of the Austin Building.

Outside Access (North Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front right 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 96cm (3ft 2in).
    • There is not 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 (with one leaf locked).
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 95cm (3ft 1in).
  • 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) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 160cm (5ft 3in).
  • Comments View
    • The swipe card is to open the second set of doors.
    • There is a steep slope to the right of the entrance leading from the Student Services Building.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the majority of the building, via lift.
    • There are no 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 no 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.

Other Floors (North Staircase)

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are B, G, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
    • The stairs are located in front of you on entrance.
    • The stairs are approximately 8m from the North Entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, double doors to access the stairwell on the basement floor, 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 height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.
  • Comments View
    • There are single doors to access the North Stairwell on the fourth and fifth floors of the building.

Other Floors (South Staircase (Austin/Cockcroft Buildings))

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are B (Austin Building), G (Austin Building), 1 (Cockcroft Building), 1 (Austin Building) 2, (Cockcroft Building), 2 (Austin Building) 3 (Cockcroft Building), 3 (Austin Building), 4 (Cockcroft Building), 4 (Austin Building) and 5 (Austin Building).
    • The stairs are located to the left of the building between the Austin and Cockcroft Building.
    • The stairs are approximately 6m from the South Entrance (Austin Building).
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, double doors to access the stairwell on all floors.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.

Lift (North Lift)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in front of you on entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are B, G, 1, 2 and 3.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 975kg.
  • The lift is approximately 7m (7yd 1ft) from the north entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 88cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 124cm x 172cm (4ft 1in x 5ft 8in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is not 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 enhancement system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does not have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The highest control is 127cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is good.
  • Comments View
    • There is another lift next to the south lift located next to the south entrance to the Austin Building. This lift accesses the Cockcroft Building on floors 1, 2, 3 and 4. It does not access any other floors of the Austin Building.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Male standard toilet facilities are located within the south stairwell on the first, second and fourth floors and in the north stairwell on the first and fourth floors..
  • Female standard toilet facilities are located on the south stairwell landing between the second floor of the Austin Building and the third floor of the Cockcroft Building. There is an additional female standard toilet with step free access on the fourth floor in the stairwell of the south staircase..

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in the Cockcroft Building or Student Services Centre.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The male toilet is located in the north stairwell on the first floor.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s), via lift.
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 9m from the north lift.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is tactile and written text 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.