Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Search for accessible places to go

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Department of Computer Science and Technology (William S Gates Building)

University of Cambridge, West Cambridge, 15 JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 0FD

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free with slight slopes on some routes.
    The approach flooring is block paving.
  • There are 3 entrances, with 2 entrances to the front (West side) of the building, and 1 entrance on the right (South) side of the building.
    The accessible entrance to the front of the building has automatic doors.
    All other entrances have manual doors.
  • No entrances are signed or named.
  • All 3 entrances provide step-free level access to the ground floor.
    The accessible entrance is the left-hand (Centre) of the 2 front entrances.
    The right-hand (South) entrance also provides access to a café.
    .

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors.
    A key card required to access the rear areas of the building on all floors.
  • There is a narrow doorway and corridor to the front left (North) side of the building on the first floor.
  • Floor surfaces along the main concourse on the ground floor, and the galleries on the first and second floors are hard and smooth, some with a patterned or shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas near the reception area on the ground floor, and on the first floor gallery.
    There are numerous seating areas on all floors to the rear of the building.
  • There is a wall mounted floor plan at reception, and wall mounted wayfinding signage at each of the main staircases.
  • There are single manual doors held permanently open in the ground floor left-hand (North) corridor.
    There are manual double doors held permanently open along circulation routes to the rear (East side) of the building.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 9 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on all floors.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The toilets with adaptations on the front left (North side) of the building on the ground floor, and off the main gallery at the front (West side) of the building on the second floor have a right hand transfer space.
      All other toilets with adaptations have a left hand transfer space.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located on all floors.
      Male and female standard toilets on the first floor require a key card..
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • Standard shower facilities are located on the ground floor to the left (North side) of the building.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the front left of the building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of block paving.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are signposted and have markings which are faded.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 340cm (width) x 425cm (depth).
    • There are no hatched/marked zones.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bays vary in size.
    • The nearest designated bay is 16m from the accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has step-free level access.
    • There is a dropped kerb without tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Accessible)

  • This entrance is located to the left of the building facing away from JJ Thomson Avenue.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • The most accessible route has slight ramps or slopes. The slope has a slight gradient.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 85cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 130cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 93cm.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 136cm.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception

  • The reception is located on the right after the accessible entrance.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 12m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 73cm.
  • 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.
  • Some flooring is patterned.
  • 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: armchairs and sofas.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
  • There is a similar Student Administration counter to the right of the reception desk.
    The height of the counter is 85cm.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located on the right after the accessible entrance.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 15m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The ground floor, first floor, and second floor 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 high visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 111cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 139cm (width) x 130cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • Some 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.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located on the left after the accessible entrance.
  • The ground floor, first floor, and second floors 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 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 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • The steps have open risers.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is a second similar staircase on the right-hand (South) side of the building.
    There are also 3 staircases to the rear (East side) of the building.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor to the left-hand (North) side of the building.
    • The distance from the accessible entrance is 36m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and manual doors.
    • 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 low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 91cm.
    • 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 low visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 143cm (width) x 293cm (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.
    • The lateral transfer space is 77cm (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 high 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 93cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps cannot 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 high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 107cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a medium visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it was tied up at the time of the survey.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is a shelf, however there is an obstruction in front of it.
    • The shelf does not meet the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 113cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.