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Faculty of Music and West Road Concert Hall

University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Site, 11 West Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DP

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • The Faculty of Music and West Road Concert Hall is spread over 2 buildings with connecting circulation and services.
      The Faculty of Music administrative offices are located within a repurposed dwelling house named the Old House, on the left as seen from West Road.
      There are teaching and seminar rooms, a lecture theatre, and the Pendlebury Library within the connecting services, and the West Road Concert Hall performance theatre in the building to the right.
      The Old House is arranged over 3 floors.
      Connecting services and the West Road Concert Hall comprise mainly a ground floor, the Concert Hall extending upwards to a first floor.
    • There is a main staircase in the Old House, plus additional stairs between various floors.
      There is a staircase in the West Road Concert Hall to access the first floor viewing balconies.
      There are no lifts in either building.
    • Different floors are generally not named or signed throughout either building.
    • View information on Faculty of Music.
  • Parking and Public Transport View

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the buildings from West Road is step-free with a block paving surface.
  • There are 2 entrances, with the West Road Concert Hall being the most accessible.
    The entrance to the West Road Concert Hall is via push pad activated automatic doors.
  • The accessible entrance to the West Road Concert Hall is not signed but is named West Road Concert Hall & Faculty of Music.
    The Old House entrance is not signed or named, although there is wayfinding signage to the right of the entrance doorway.
  • The accessible entrance to the West Road Concert Hall provides step-free access to the ground floor of the West Road Concert Hall and further ground floor areas to the rear of the building, including teaching and seminar rooms, a lecture theatre, and the Pendlebury Library.
  • There is a sloped entrance via ramp into the Old House, with access into the building via manual doors.

Getting Around

  • The Old House only has stepped access from the first floor upwards.
    There is a main staircase to all floors, with additional staircases within the building.
    The rear of the Old House connects via stepped access to The Pendlebury Library.
    Step-free access to the library is available via the West Road Concert Hall accessible entrance.
    There is step-free level access throughout the ground floor of the West Road Concert Hall.
    The West Road Concert Hall has a staircase to the first floor viewing balconies.
    There are no lifts in either building.
  • There is a steep ramp in the access corridor on the ground floor between the Faculty Graduate Room in the Old House and the Pendlebury Library.
  • Key pad access is required in circulation routes to the rear of the ground floor in the West Road Concert Hall building.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are mostly carpeted.
    There are some floors in circulation routes in the West Road Concert Hall building which are hard and have a shiny finish.
  • There is seating in the Old House to the front and to the rear left of the building, and in the foyer area of the West Road Concert Hall building.
  • There is sparse wall mounted and overhead wayfinding signage, mainly within the West Road Concert Hall.
  • There are manual doors in all circulation areas, some of which may be permanently held open.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located within the West Road Concert Hall building.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located on the ground floor to the rear of the West Road Concert Hall building, and on the first floor of the Old House.
    • The gender inclusive toilet facilities are located on the ground floor to the rear of the West Road Concert Hall building, and on the first floor of the Old House.
    • The shared toilet facilities are located on the second floor in the Old House.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the toilet with adaptations in the West Road Concert Hall building.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

Entrance (West Road Concert Hall)

  • This entrance is located to the centre of the West Road Concert Hall building.
  • 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 single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 90cm.
  • The width of the opening is 105cm.
  • 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 90cm.
  • There is a similar set of manually operated doors to the left-hand side of these doors.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception (West Road Concert Hall)

  • The reception is located straight ahead from the entrance to the West Road Concert Hall building.
  • The distance from main entrance to the West Road Concert Hall building is 10m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 74cm.
  • The reception has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is background noise in this area which varies depending on the function/event .
  • 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: sofas.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.

Stairs (West Road Concert Hall)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the centre of the West Road Concert Hall building.
  • The ground floor and the balconies on the first 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 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 15cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.

Entrance (The Old House)

  • This entrance is located at the front centre of the Old House.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient with resting areas.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with handrails on both sides.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 3 steps with a handrail on the right going up.
  • The handrail is not easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are unmarked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is an intercom at a height of 138cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance, however one door is locked.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 56cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors, however one door is locked.
  • The second set of doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 57cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Stairs (The Old House)

  • The stairs surveyed are located on the left after the entrance to the Old House.
  • The ground floor, first floor and second floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail that switches sides.
  • The handrails are not easy to grip.
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails do not 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 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.
  • There is an additional staircase to the rear of the Old House between the ground floor Faculty Graduate Room and the first floor.
    There is a further staircase to the rear right of the Old House between the first floor and second floor.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - West Road Concert Hall Building - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right of the building on the ground floor of the West Road Concert Hall building.
    • The distance from the main entrance to the West Road Concert Hall building is 20m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • 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 89cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • 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 173cm (width) x 190cm (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 93cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula 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 low 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.
    • 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 92cm 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 rail is on the right as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a medium 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 low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 85cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 80cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 91cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.