Access Guide
Introduction
- Services / facilities within the building include a library, museum, staff offices and study areas.
- Department of Earth Sciences (Mineralogy Building) link (new tab) - click here.
Getting Here
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By Road
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- The Downing Street site is located to the south of the Cambridge City Centre. It can be reached from the A10 via Hauxton Road, High Street and Trumpington Street.
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By Bus
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- There is a bus stop located along Downing Street for St Andrew's Street which serves route 75 and for the Park and Ride. There is also a stop for the Busway along Regent Street. These serve A the Busway and D the Busway.
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By Train
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- Cambridge train station is approximately 1.3 miles or a 25 minute walk from the Mill Lane Buildings.
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Useful Links
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- Stage Coach and Bus Information.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- Travel Line Bus information.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- The National Rail Enquiries Website.
- To view the web page described above click here (opens in new tab).
- AccessAble Related Links View
Useful Information
- To see more information on Disability Resource Centre please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 332 301.
- Email: [email protected].
- The Disability Resource Centre is located in Student Services Centre on Bene't Street, Cambridge, CB2 3PT.
- To see more information on Student Advice Centre please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 746 999.
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Museums please click here (opens new tab).
- Email: [email protected].
- To see more information on Cambridge Libraries please click here (opens new tab).
- To see more information on Accommodation Service please click here (opens new tab).
- Telephone Number: 01223 338 099.
- Email: [email protected].
- The accommodation service is located within Kellet Lodge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QJ. It is open from Monday to Friday 9am - 12:45pm and 2pm - 4:45pm.
Building Parking
- The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
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Site/Campus Car Parks
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- There is a site/campus car park for staff, students and visitors within approximately 200m.
- The name of the car park is the Courtyard car park.
- The car park is located to the front of the building.
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Public Car Parks
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- There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
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Drop Off Point
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- There is not a designated drop off point.
Site/Campus Car Park
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Car Park
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- The car park is located around the Downing Site with a Blue Badge bay located to the rear of the Courtyard Building.
- The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Department of Archaeology (Courtyard Building McDonald Institute) and the Sedgwick Building.
- The car park type is open air/surface.
- The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
- The car park surface is concrete.
- Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
- The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
- There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
- The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 250cm x 615cm (8ft 2in x 20ft 2in).
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Charges and Restrictions
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- This car park can be used by Blue Badge holders, permit holders and staff permit holders.
- There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
- Signs are not provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
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Drop Off Point
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- There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
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Car Park Access
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- There is sloped access to the car park from the Downing Site.
- The nearest designated bay is 25m (27yd 1ft) from the Courtyard Building main entrance.
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Comments
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- There is car parking located throughout the Downing Site.
- Car parking is restricted and over-subscribed.
Outside Access (Accessible Entrance)
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
- There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is an intercom.
- The height of the intercom is 75cm (2ft 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 60cm (1ft 12in).
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Second Set of Doors
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- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
- The door(s) is / are push pad activated when exiting.
- The door(s) is / are double.
- The door(s) is / are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 128cm (4ft 2in).
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Ramp/Slope
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- There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
- The ramp/slope is located to the right as you face the entrance.
- The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
- The ramp/slope gradient is steep.
- The ramp is permanent.
- There is a level landing at the top of the ramp.
- The ramp does not have handrails.
- The width of the ramp is 147cm (4ft 10in).
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Step(s)
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- There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
- The step(s) is / are located to the left as you face the entrance.
- There is / are 2 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 clearly marked.
- The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- The steps do not have handrails.
Outside Access (Sedgwick Museum Entrance)
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
- There is stepped access at this entrance.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- The height of the card reader/lock is 157cm (5ft 2in).
- 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.
- The door(s) is / are permanently held open (at the time of the survey).
- The width of the door opening is 126cm (4ft 2in).
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Second Set of Doors
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- There is a second set of doors.
- The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
- The door(s) is / are double.
- The door(s) is / are heavy.
- The width of the door opening is 128cm (4ft 2in).
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Step(s)
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- There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
- The step(s) is / are located on both sides of the entrance.
- There is / are 15+ 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 clearly marked.
- The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- The steps do have handrails.
- The handrails are on both sides.
Entrance (Entrance to the Mineralogy Building)
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Entrance
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- This information is for the entrance located to the east wing of the building.
- There is stepped access at this entrance.
- There are two sets of manual, heavy, double doors between the east wing and this entrance.
- There is not a bell/buzzer.
- There is not an intercom.
- 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 128cm (4ft 2in).
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Step(s)
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- There is a/are step(s) at this entrance.
- The step(s) is / are located immediately beyond the entrance.
- There is / are 3 step(s) to access the entrance.
- The step(s) is / are clearly marked.
- The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- The steps do not have handrails.
Reception
- The Sedgwick Reception is located ahead and to the left as you enter.
- The desk is 14m (15yd 11in) from the accessible entrance.
- Clear signage for the reception area is not visible from the entrance.
- There is step free access to this reception area.
- The lighting levels in the reception area are medium.
- The reception desk/counter is medium height (77cm - 109cm).
- There is not a low section of the counter (76cm or below) available.
- The desk is staffed.
- There is not a hearing assistance system.
Getting Around
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Access
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- There is step free access throughout the majority of the building, via lift.
- There is/are 4 clearly marked step(s), with no handrails, for access to the east wing.
- The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- The steps are shown in photograph 1.
- There is/are 4 clearly marked step(s), with a handrail on the left going up, for access to the Haker Seminar Room and toilets in the east wing.
- The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- The steps are shown in photograph 2.
- There is/are 2 clearly marked step(s), with no handrails, for access to the first floor of the east wing.
- The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- There is a steep ramp, with no handrails, for access to the first floor of the east wing.
- The width of the ramp is 134cm (4ft 5in).
- The ramp or slope does not bypass the step(s).
- The steps and ramp are shown in photographs 3 and 4.
- There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
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Getting Around
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- 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 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
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Steps
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- The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1, 2 and 3.
- The stairs are located to the left as you enter through the accessible entrance.
- The stairs are approximately 2m from the accessible entrance.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- There are manual, heavy, single doors to access the stairwell on the first floor.
- The lighting levels are medium.
- The steps are not clearly marked.
- The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
- The steps do have handrails.
- The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
- There is a landing.
- There are similar staircases along the east wing. This can be seen in photograph 3.
Lift
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located to the left of the building.
- The lift is a standard lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are G, 1, 2 and 3.
- Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
- The weight limit for the lift is 400kg.
- The lift is approximately 14m (15yd 11in) from the accessible entrance.
- Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The clear door width is 75cm (2ft 6in).
- The lift door is manual, heavy and opens outwards.
- The dimensions of the lift are 80cm x 80cm (2ft 7in x 2ft 7in).
- There are 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 have an audible announcer.
- The lift has a hearing enhancement system.
- The lift does not have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
- The lighting level in the lift is medium.
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 an ordering service.
- It takes approximately 7 to 14 days to process an order.
- The library does not have computers with accessible software.
- Auxiliary aids are available for computer users.
- A height adjustable chair is / are available.
Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities
- Accessible toilet facilities are located on the ground floor of the building.
- Female and male standard toilet facilities are located on the ground and third floors of the east wing..
Accessible Toilet(s)
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Location and Access
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- This accessible toilet is located on the left as you exit the lift on the ground floor.
- This accessible toilet is approximately 18m (19yd 2ft) 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 Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the toilet door.
- The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
- The door opens inwards.
- The door is light.
- The door is locked by a locking handle.
- The width of the accessible toilet opening is 82cm (2ft 8in).
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is poor.
- The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
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Toilet Features
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- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 120cm x 335cm (3ft 11in x 10ft 12in).
- The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- The lighting levels are good.
- There is not a lateral transfer space.
- There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
- There is a spatula type lever flush.
- There is a dropdown rail, however it is not 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 the right.
- There is not a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
- There is not 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 fair.
- There is an emergency alarm.
- The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
- 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 general waste (with no lid) disposal units.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
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Additional Fixtures
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- 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 cistern.
- The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 46cm (1ft 6in).
- 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 not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is poor.
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin and tap(s) cannot 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 right hand side of the wash basin.
- The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is fair.
- 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 107cm.
- There is not a towel dispenser.
- There is a hand dryer.
- The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is fair.
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Baby Changing Facilities
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- Baby changing facilities are located within the accessible toilet.
- There is a flip down baby change table available.
- The height of the baby change table is 97cm.
Standard Toilet(s)
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Toilet Facilities
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- The female toilet is located on the ground floor along the east wing.
- There is stepped access into the toilet(s).
- The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 48m from the accessible entrance.
- The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is poor.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- It was not possible to access the female toilet.
- An ambulant toilet cubicle is available.
- There are horizontal wall mounted rails available on both sides of the toilet.
- There is a/are vertical wall mounted rail(s) on the left as you face the toilet.
- The height of the wash basin(s) is 80cm.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is lever mixer.
- Lighting levels are good.