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Southwood House

University of Greenwich, Avery Hill Road, Eltham, London, SE9 2UG

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • Southwood House is a large building with 3 floors.
    • There are 2 main staircases within the building, one of which is locked and out of bounds. There is no lift.
    • The floors are signed as the ground floor (0), first floor (1) and second floor (2).
    • The building is split into two wings - the main part of the building, and the rear wing. The ground floor of the rear wing, which contains rooms SH005-SH012 (including a set of standard male and female toilets and the standard shower), plus one of the alternative entrances to SH004, is accessed separately via the rear wing entrance. There is no access internally from this part of the building to the rest of the building. The first and second floors of the rear wing are accessed from the main part of the building.
  • Parking and Public Transport View

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building from the car park and nearest other buildings on campus (Grey Building and Bronte Building) is step-free via very easy slopes.
  • Southwood house has two entrances. The Main Entrance is located at the front of the building and provides step-free access to the ground floor via a slight ramp (which bypasses the step). There is a single touch-pad-activated automatic door at this entrance.
  • The Rear Wing Entrance is located to the rear of the building and provides step-free access (via a very easy ramp and a single manual door) to the ground floor of the rear wing only, containing rooms SH005-SH012 only. There is no internal access through the building to these rooms from the main entrance.
  • The main entrance is signed as "Southwood House".
  • The rear wing entrance is signed as "SH005".

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the ground floor of the building only.
  • There is stepped access throughout the building on the first and second floors.
  • The building has no lift, and access to the first and second floors from the ground floor is via stairs only.
  • On the ground floor, there is a slight ramp, with no handrails, to access the toilet with adaptations, standard male and female toilets, staff kitchen, and one of the alternative entrances to Room SH004 from the rest of the main part of the building.
  • On the first floor, from the stairwell, there are 2 steps (without handrails or clear markings) to access rooms SH101 and SH101a.
  • There are 3 steps (without handrails, but clearly marked) to access rooms SH107-SH110 from the stairwell. There are then 3 further steps (without handrails or clear markings) to access rooms SH111-SH114 from here, including a set of standard male and female toilets.
  • On the second floor, from the stairwell, there are 7 steps (without clear markings, but with a handrail on the right going up) to access rooms SH206-SH210. There are then 3 further steps (without handrails or clear markings) to access rooms SH211-SH217 from here.
  • Floor surfaces along circulation routes throughout the building are comprised of low pile carpet.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • Wall-mounted wayfinding signage is provided throughout the building on all floors. Each room is also signed with numbered signage on or near the door.
  • There are manual doors along circulation routes throughout the building, many of which require a key card to open.
  • There is step-free level access once inside the building to all teaching rooms.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located on the ground floor, to the right, through the door, to the left up the ramp and then to the right as you enter the building through the main entrance.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a right hand transfer space.
    • The male and female step-free standard toilet facilities are located on the ground floor, to the right, through the door, to the left up the ramp and then to the right as you enter the building through the main entrance; and in the rear wing of the building on the ground floor, to the right along the corridor as you enter through the rear wing entrance.
    • The male and female standard toilet facilities are located on the first floor, to the left through the door off the landing; and in the rear wing of the building, at the bottom of the steps leading down from rooms 107-110.
    • The shared standard toilet facilities are located on the second floor, immediately to the left at the top of the stairs.
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • Standard shower facilities are located in the rear wing of the building on the ground floor, to the right along the corridor as you enter through the rear wing entrance.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking (Southwood House Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located next to Southwood House, between Southwood House and the Grey Building and Bronte Building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac and unsurfaced areas.
    • There are 3 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 250cm (width) x 485cm (depth).
    • The hatched/marked zones vary between bays.
    • The width of the marked zone is 123cm.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bays vary in size.
    • The nearest designated bay is 22m from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a very easy ramp or slope.
    • The Blue Badge bays are flush with the route to the building entrances.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for staff, students, visitors and Blue Badge holders only.
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
    • Payment machines are located on the campus, outside the Mary Seacole Building.
    • There is not a payment machine with controls at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
    • The car park is ANPR controlled. Payment is made at the end of your stay using the on-site machines, in advance using the online booking system, or online by midnight using the Trust app. Please visit the website above for information on the latter two options. Unless booked in advance, Blue Badge holders must enter their registration into the on-site machines or the Trust app to avoid a penalty charge.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is a designated drop-off point available.
    • The designated drop-off point is located to the side of the Grey Building.
    • The drop-off point is flush with the route to the building entrances.
  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street standard parking is available.
    • Standard on-street parking is available outside the campus on Avery Hill Road, in marked strips.

Entrance (Main)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building, leading in from the car park, opposite the garden.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is 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 slight gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • The ramp bypasses the step.
  • There is 1 step with no handrails.
  • The step is unmarked.
  • The height of the step is not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 11cm.
  • There is a guard rail on the right hand side of the ramp going up.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 100cm.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 88cm.
  • The width of the opening is 99cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 98cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Entrance (Rear Wing - SH005-SH012)

  • This entrance is located at the rear of the building, to the left as you approach from the car park.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via a very easy ramp at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 115cm.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 93cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 112cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.
  • This entrance can only be used to access the rear wing of the building on the ground floor, which contains rooms SH005-SH012 (including a set of standard male and female toilets and the standard shower), plus one of the alternative entrances to SH004. There is no internal access to the rest of the building from here (the rear staircase is kept locked).

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located around to the right as you enter the building through the main entrance.
  • The ground floor, first floor and second floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 18 steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have a handrail on the left going up.
  • The handrail is not easy to grip.
  • The handrail does not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 20cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the ground floor, to the right, through the door, to the left up the ramp and then to the right as you enter the building through the main entrance.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 22m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has a slight ramp or slope, manual doors and narrow walkways.
    • 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 84cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is not a grab rail on the internal door .
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 145cm (width) x 194cm (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 82cm (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 no vertical grab rail for the toilet.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 47cm 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 low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 104cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 76cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a twist/turn 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 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 94cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 107cm from the floor.
    • There is no emergency alarm.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 147cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.