Access Guide
Overview
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About
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- The Department of Pharmacology (Pharmacology Building) is a medium-sized building with 4 levels. There is also a basement, but this is for maintenance staff only.
- There is 1 lift and 2 main staircases within the building.
- The floors are signed as level 1, 2, 3 and 4.
- There is internal step-free level access to the Gleeson Building on all levels.
- View information on Department of Pharmacology (Pharmacology Building).
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Parking and Public Transport
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- The venue does not have its own car park.
- The name of the nearest car park is Old Addenbrooke's Site - Rear Car Park.
- View information on University of Cambridge Car Parks - Central Sites (opens new tab) .
- The nearest train station is Cambridge.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (opens new tab).
- View information on getting here (opens new tab) .
Getting Inside
- The approach to the main entrance from Tennis Court Road is stepped, bypassed by a steep ramp with resting areas.
- There are 9 medium-height steps with central handrails on the approach to the main entrance from Tennis Court Road. The ramp is located to the left of these steps, with a handrail on the left going up. It mostly has a slight gradient, with one short but steep section. Part of the handrail was obstructed by vegetation when surveyed (August 2024).
- The Department of Pharmacology (Pharmacology Building) has 2 entrances. The main entrance provides step-free level access to Reception on the upper part of level 1 via two sets of single automatic doors. The rest of level 1 is then accessed from here via the platform lift within the building.
The rear entrance provides access via a steep ramp and step to the lower part of level 1 via double manual doors (with one leaf locked). - The entrances are not differentiated by name for this building.
- The main entrance provides step-free level access to Reception on the upper part of level 1 via two sets of single automatic doors. The rest of level 1 is then accessed from here via the platform lift within the building.
- The rear entrance is located to the rear of the building, leading in from the site/campus car park, and provides access via a steep ramp and step to the lower part of level 1 via double manual doors (with one leaf locked).
Getting Around
- There is step-free level access throughout the building on all levels, via a platform lift. There is step-free level access to all levels from both entrances via the main lift.
- On level 1, there are 8 clearly marked steps, 18cm high and with handrails on both sides, to access all areas of the building from the main entrance and Reception desk. These are bypassed by the platform lift.
- Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with a shiny finish. Most flooring is vinyl, with the exception of stone flooring on the south stairs.
- There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
- Wall-mounted wayfinding signage is provided throughout the building.
- There are not manual doors in any circulation corridors; all are permanently held open.
Toilet and Changing Facilities
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Toilet Facilities
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- There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
- The toilet with adaptations is located along the rear corridor on level 1.
- All toilets with adaptations have a left hand transfer space.
- The male and female toilet facilities are located along the rear corridor on all levels.
Entrance (Main Entrance)
- This entrance is located at the front of the building, off Tennis Court Road.
- The entrance area is clearly signed.
- There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
- There is step-free level access at the entrance.
- There is an intercom at a height of 119cm.
- There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 103cm.
- These are only required to enter the building outside of normal hours.
- There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
- The door opens by sliding.
- The width of the opening is 155cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The door has a low visual contrast.
- There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 98cm.
- There is a second single automatic door.
- The second door opens by sliding.
- The width of the opening is 198cm.
- There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
- The second door has a low visual contrast.
- There is step-free level access as you enter.
Entrance (Rear Entrance)
- This entrance is located to the rear of the building, next to the site/campus car park.
- The entrance area is not clearly signed.
- There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
- There is ramped and stepped access at the entrance.
- The ramp has a steep gradient.
- The ramp is over 150cm wide with no handrails.
- There is 1 step with no handrails.
- The step is unmarked.
- The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 4cm.
- There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 120cm.
- There are double manual doors at this entrance, however one door is locked.
- The doors open towards you.
- The width of the opening is 97cm.
- The doors have a high visual contrast.
- There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 130cm.
- There is step-free level access as you enter.
Reception
- The reception is located straight ahead as you enter through the main entrance.
- The distance from the main entrance is 6m.
- There is step-free level access to reception.
- The height of the reception desk is 111cm.
- There is a lowered section at the desk.
- The height of the lowered section is 77cm.
- The reception has windows, a television and glazed screens.
- There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
- The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
- There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
- The flooring is shiny.
- 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 with armrests.
- Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
Lift (Platform Lift)
- The lift surveyed is located to the right as you enter through the main entrance.
- This lift is a platform lift.
- The distance from the main entrance is 8m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
- The upper and lower levels of level 1 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 medium visual contrast.
- All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 90cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 102cm (width) x 148cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have Braille markings, a high visual contrast and tactile markings.
- All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift is slow moving and the button needs to be pressed constantly when in use.
- Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Lift (Main Lift)
- The lift surveyed is located to the right and then on the left as you enter through the main entrance, at the bottom of the platform lift.
- The distance from the platform lift is 6m.
- The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and a platform lift.
- Floors 1, 2, 3 and 4 are accessed by this lift.
- The lift door has a high 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 medium visual contrast and tactile markings.
- All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- The lift door opening width is 109cm.
- The internal dimensions of the lift are 156cm (width) x 190cm (depth).
- The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a medium visual contrast.
- All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
- Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
Stairs (South Stairs)
- The stairs surveyed are located to the south of the building.
- Levels 1, 2, 3, 4 can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps have faded markings and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 18cm.
- The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
Stairs (North Stairs)
- The stairs surveyed are located to the north of the building.
- Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 can be accessed by these stairs.
- There are 20+ steps between floors.
- The steps have low visual contrast markings and have handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the highest step is 18cm.
- The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
- Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
Toilet with Adaptations (Level 1 - Rear Corridor - Left Hand Transfer)
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Location and Access
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- The toilet surveyed is located in the rear corridor of the building on Level 1.
- The distance from the Main Lift is 9m.
- The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, a lift and a platform lift.
- 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 sliding bolt lock.
- Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
- There is a grab rail on the internal door with a medium visual contrast.
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Dimensions and Features
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- The dimensions of the cubicle are 175cm (width) x 180cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
- There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet.
- The lateral transfer space is 106cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
- There is a lever flush on the non-transfer side.
- There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
- The horizontal grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
- There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
- The vertical grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- The dropdown rail has a low visual contrast.
- The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
- The toilet seat has a high 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 medium visual contrast.
- The toilet roll holder is 100cm from the floor.
- The wash basin and taps cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is 73cm from the floor.
- The wash basin has a twist/turn tap.
- The vertical grab rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
- The wash basin grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
- There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
- The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
- The soap dispenser is 106cm from the floor.
- There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
- The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
- The towel dispenser is 119cm from the floor.
- There is not a hand dryer.
- There is no emergency alarm.
- There is a mirror.
- There is an unobstructed shelf.
- The shelf does not meet the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
- The cubicle has a waste bin.
- There are no coat hooks.
- The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.