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Faculty of Economics (Austin Robinson Building)

University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Site, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 9DD

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free on a slope with a slight gradient and some uneven surfaces.
  • There are 2 entrances into the building beneath a raised faculty bridge towards the centre of the building, both with key card activated automatic doors.
  • There is an accessible entrance at The Faculty side of the building named the Austin Robinson Building and signed ECONOMICS.
    There is an alternative entrance at the Marshall Library side of the building signed THE MARSHALL LIBRARY OF ECONOMICS.
    The Faculty side of the building has double automatic doors.
    The Marshall Library side of the building has a single automatic door.
  • The accessible entrance to the ground floor of The Faculty provides step-free access to the rest of The Faculty via lift, and step-free access via lift to access the Marshall Library.
    The alternative entrance provides step-free access to the ground floor and lower and upper ground floors/mezzanine level of the Marshall Library side of the building.
  • The ground floor of the Faculty does not have a main circulation corridor.
    The Library can only be accessed step-free from the first floor within The Faculty.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access via lift throughout The Faculty.
    There is step-free access to the first floor of The Marshall Library of Economics via The Faculty main lift.
  • There is a stair lift near the entrance to the Marshall Library side of the building to overcome steps between the lower ground floor, ground floor, and upper ground floor/mezzanine level.
    The stair lift also provides step-free access to the accessible toilet on the lower ground floor, and seminar rooms on the upper ground floor/mezzanine level of the Marshall Library side of the building.
    Staff assistance is required to use the stair lift.
  • Floor surfaces along circulation routes are generally hard and smooth, with some have a shiny or patterned finish.
    Some circulation routes on the fourth floor are carpeted.
  • There is a resting area with a sofa on the first landing of The Faculty main stairs.
    There are high stools after the entrance to the Marshall Library side of the building.
    There is a sofa on the ground floor level of the Marshall Library side of the building.
  • The floors are generally not signed although there is signage to indicate the second floor upwards, for example SECOND FLOOR, as viewed when exiting The Faculty main lift.
    There is no signage for the lower ground floor, ground floor, and upper ground floor in the Marshall Library side of the building, or the upper first floor and second floors of the Marshall Library side of the building.
  • There are some manual double doors in some corridors, which generally have one leaf held permanently open.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the first floor in The Faculty, and on the lower ground floor in the Marshall Library side of the building.
    • The toilet with adaptations on the first floor in The Faculty has a left hand transfer.
      The toilet with adaptations on the lower ground floor in the Marshall Library side of the building has a right hand transfer.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located on the lower ground floor in the Marshall Library side of the building, on the second and third floors in The Faculty side of the building, and on the fourth floor on both sides of the building.
    • The male toilet facilities are located on the first floor in The Faculty.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Entrance (The Faculty)

  • This entrance is located beneath the raised faculty bridge, on the left.
  • 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 a key fob/card reader at a height of 100cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 123cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 133cm.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 121cm.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception (The Faculty)

  • The reception is located on the right after the main entrance to The Faculty side of the building.
  • The distance from the main entrance to The Faculty side of the building is 3m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 72cm.
  • The reception has windows and patterned/distracting backgrounds.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • The reception desk is open 08:50 - 17:00 Monday to Friday.

Lift (Main - The Faculty)

  • The lift surveyed is located straight ahead after the entrance to The Faculty, on the left.
  • The distance from the main entrance to The Faculty is 7m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and automatic doors.
  • The ground floor upwards to the fourth floor are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a medium 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 high visual contrast, Braille markings and tactile markings.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 80cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 104cm (width) x 138cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a high visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • The majority of the internal controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator, an audible announcer and a list of floor services/facilities.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Entrance (The Marshall Library)

  • This entrance is located beneath the raised faculty bridge, on the right.
  • 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 a key fob/card reader at a height of 90cm.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 90cm.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 95cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Lift (The Marshall Library)

  • The lift surveyed is located within the Marshall Library side of the building.
  • This lift is a stair lift.
  • The distance from Marshall Library entrance is 3m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The lower ground floor, ground floor, and upper ground/mezzanine floor are accessed by this lift.
  • 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 high visual contrast.
  • Some of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 84cm (width) x 70cm (depth).
  • 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.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located straight ahead after The Faculty entrance.
  • The ground floor upwards to the fourth floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are not 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 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is an additional staircase to the rear left of The Faculty building.
    There are further stairs within The Marshall Library side of the building.
    The lower ground floor, ground floor, upper ground floor/mezzanine and first floor of the Marshall Library side of the building are accessed by these stairs.
    The handrails at these stairs do extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
    The height of the highest step is 15cm.
    The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.

Toilet with Adaptations (First Floor - The Faculty - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the first floor, left out of the lift, along the corridor, in the stairwell on the right.
    • The distance from The Faculty main lift is 20m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, manual doors and automatic doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is an automatic single door to access the stairwell in which the toilet is located.
    • There is a push pad to open the door at a height of 80cm.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 80cm.
    • The door has a push pad lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 224cm (width) x 204cm (depth) and there is 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 158cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
    • 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 110cm 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 soap dispenser, however it is not wall mounted.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 110cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 92cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it was tied up at the time of the survey.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Lower Ground Floor - The Marshall Library - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the lower ground floor in the Marshall Library side of the building.
    • The distance from the Marshall Library stair lift is 2m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and a stair lift.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 83cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 142cm (width) x 196cm (depth) and there is not 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 78cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high 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 low 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 high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 120cm 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 high visual contrast.
    • There is a soap dispenser, however it is not wall mounted.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 92cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it was tied up at the time of the survey.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • The walls and floor visual contrast varies between low and high.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.