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Main Building

College Lane Campus, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane, Hatfield, AL10 9AB

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • The Main Building is a large building with 3 floors.
    • The building has 2 lifts.
    • The Main Building houses the main university reception, the Chapman Lounge and Café Rore, Prince Edward Hall and The Suite anteroom, the Chapman Gallery, plus the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and various teaching spaces.
    • The building is arranged around a north to south (left to right) set of 3 open quadrangles comprising mainly single connected corridors on multiple floors.
    • The southernmost quadrangle, The Amphitheatre, opens out to the Front Lawn across Butler Walk effectively separating the front of the Main Building from the front of the Hutton Building.
    • The building is conjoined with the Science Block at the left end, and the Hutton Building at the right end along the east (rear) side of The Amphitheatre.
    • Since the building is on a west to east (front to rear) upward slope, there are up to 3 floors for corridors to the front of the building, with there only being a single floor for corridors to the rear of the building.
    • There is also a link bridge from the Wright Building to the rear of the building.
    • There is step-free internal access via 2 lifts at the front side of the building.
    • For the purposes of this guide the main lift is referred to as the Main Reception lift, which provides access from reception to the Prince Edward Hall anteroom The Suite, and onward access to the adjacent Science Block.
      • Since The Suite may not always present a through route to other areas of the building, and is further away from most services, the second lift may be used for onward access via the Chapman Gallery and is referred to as the Chapman lift.
    • There are also 4 staircases distributed along the front of the building linking various combinations of lower ground floor and ground floor corridors.
    • Corridors and rooms are named according to the campus naming convention with B Corridor floors along the front of the building, and D Corridor along the rear of the building, with a single C Corridor joining the first floor B Corridor with D Corridor.
      • There is a second C Corridor that joins the lower ground floor B Corridor with D Corridor but only via stairs.
    • There is a single E Corridor off D Corridor for access between the rear entrance off the Coales Way access road.
    • While located along D Corridor, rooms off the D Corridor towards the rear of the building are prefixed E.
    • Step-free access to the ground floor B Corridor is either by the Main Reception or Chapman lifts, or by entering the rear of building off the Coales Way access road. Step-free access between the lower ground floor B Corridor and the ground floor B Corridor is only by via Main Reception or Chapman lifts.
    • There is not an A Corridor in the Main Building.
    • Room numbering increases from the 100's at the left of the building, to the 300's to the right of the building.
    • Individual rooms are prefixed L for the lower ground floor e.g., Room LB100, or 1 for any mezzanine (upper floor) e.g., 1B100
    • Visitors should note that signage usually shows the corridor letter first e.g., 'B Corridor', but may occasionally read 'Corridor B' instead.
    • For clarity this guide will refer to the former naming convention whereas actual signage may use the latter.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
  • Related Access Guides View

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free and level.
  • The most accessible entrance surveyed was the main entrance which is off Car Park B.
  • This entrance gives access to College Lane Campus Main Reception which is on the lower ground floor of the Main Building.
  • There is also step-free external access to the ground floor from the Coales Way access road to the rear of the building.
  • There are more than 10 other entrances.
  • More than 5 of the other entrances have step-free access via slope.
  • Aside the main entrance, there is also a side entrance with automatic doors on the right-hand side of the main entrance block for direct access to Café Rore, the Chapman lift, and the lower ground floor B Corridor; the entrance doorways here are width restricted to 92cm.
  • Further entrances may be located further along Butler Walk, within the Amphitheatre, along the Coales Way access road to the rear of the building, or internally from adjoining buildings.
  • Since some circulation routes to specific rooms from the main entrance may be up to 250m, some may prefer to enter the building via any of the different alternative entrances to help reduce journey times.
    Butler Walk
  • There is an external entrance with automatic doors to the lower ground floor B Corridor to the right of the side entrance.
  • There is a ramped entrance at the front of the building beneath the covered walkway before The Amphitheatre and the South Lawn with push pad operated automatic doors.
    • There is access here to Room LB252 and the lower ground floor B Corridor and C Corridor LC251 to LC260, with only stepped access to ground floor C Corridor C250 to C270.
    • There is also a stepped entrance with a manual door opposite with dedicated direct stepped access to the Offices of the Vice-Chancellor. There is alternative step-free internal access to the Offices of the Vice-Chancellor via lift via the main entrance.
    The Amphitheatre
  • There are external stepped entrances here to D corridor, including for the E350 and E351 lecture theatres.
    Coales Way
  • There is an external entrance with an automatic door to D Corridor to the rear of the building off the Coales Way access road opposite the Wright Building and the Health Research Building.
  • There is an external stepped entrance to D corridor from the rear of the building off the Coales Way access road between the Wright Building and the Research Centre.
    Internal entrances
  • There is an internal open entrance into D Corridor from the Hutton Building.
  • There is also an internal entrance from the Science Block on the ground floor B Corridor with double manual doors which opens into The Suite for the Chapman Gallery.
  • There is a bridge link between the first floor of the Wright Building via stairs to the D Corridor.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step-free access between floors via lift.
    • There is step-free level access throughout the majority of walkways.
    • The following areas have step-free access via slopes: access between the Chapman Lounge concourse and the Chapman lift, and on the ground floor for access to the Chapman lift.
    • Additional areas also accessed by ramps include: access between the Chapman Lounge concourse and the lower ground floor main access corridor.
  • Circulation View
    • There are manual doors along circulation routes.
    • There is a high colour contrast between the walls and floor along circulation routes.
    • Some flooring is shiny and patterned.
    • There is no (or very little) background noise.
    • Wayfinding signage is provided.
    • The colour, design and typeface of signage is consistent throughout.
    • Lighting levels vary due to the size of the space.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 3 toilets with adaptations.
    • The toilets with adaptations are located on the lower ground floor behind the main reception, within the male standard toilets on the lower ground floor to the right of Café Rore, just before the entrance to the lower ground floor B Corridor, and also further along the lower ground floor B Corridor.
    • All toilets with adaptations have a right hand transfer space.
    • Ambulant toilet facilities are located within the female and male standard toilets on the lower ground floor behind the main reception.
    • Female and male step-free standard toilet facilities are located on the lower ground floor to the rear of the main reception area, on the lower ground floor to the right of Café Rore, just before the entrance to the lower ground floor B Corridor, and along D Corridor.
    • Male step-free standard toilet facilities are located on the lower ground floor to the right of Café Rore, just before the entrance to the lower ground floor B Corridor; and on the ground floor along B Corridor to the front of the building near The Suite.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within each of the female and male standard toilets on the lower ground floor to the right of Café Rore, just before the entrance to the lower ground floor B Corridor.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking (Car Park B)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located in front of the main reception building.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of block paving.
    • There are 4 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 230cm (width) x 490cm (depth).
    • There are no hatched/marked zones.
    • The nearest designated bay is 50m from the main entrance.
    • There is a dropped kerb with tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
    • There are additional Blue Badge parking bays to the rear of the building along the Coales Way access road.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • Electric Vehicle charging points are not available.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (College Lane Campus Main Reception)

  • This entrance is located on the left-hand side of the building, just off Car Park B.
  • 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 a very easy slope at the entrance.
  • There are double automatic doors.
  • The doors are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 202cm.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.
  • There is a second, single automatic door.
  • The door is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 106cm.
  • The door has a low colour contrast.
  • There is a similar single second door located to the right of the second door surveyed.

Reception (College Lane Campus Main Reception)

  • Location View
    • The reception is located straight ahead after the main entrance.
    • The distance from the College Lane Campus Main Reception entrance is 6m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the reception has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access to the reception.
    • The height of the reception desk is 101cm.
    • There is a lowered section at the desk.
    • The height of the lowered section is 75cm.
    • The reception has a television which may affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • There is a clearly signed portable hearing assistance system.
    • The hearing assistance system was tested and working at the time of the survey.
    • There may be background noise in this area.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Lift (Main Reception)

  • The lift surveyed is located is located straight ahead past the reception desk, to the left of the stairs.
  • The distance from the College Lane Campus Main Reception entrance is 32m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • Doors are held open along the most accessible route.
  • Standard Lift View
    • The lower ground floor and the ground floor can be accessed by this lift.
    • The lift door has a high colour contrast.
    • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
    • The weight limit for the lift is 800kg.
    • The control buttons have a medium colour contrast.
    • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The lift door opening width is 79cm.
    • The internal dimensions of the lift are 134cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
    • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings.
    • The control buttons have a high colour contrast.
    • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator, an audible announcer, an intercom hearing assistance system and a mirror to aid reversing.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
    • There is an alternative lift, the Chapman lift, to the right of the main reception area, past Café Rore.
    • There is a narrow walkway on the approach to this lift.

Lift (Chapman Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located diagonally left across the Chapman Concourse from the side entrance.
  • The distance from the side entrance is 20m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has a very easy slope.
  • Doors are held open along the most accessible route.
  • This route has narrow walkways.
  • Standard Lift View
    • The lower ground floor, the ground floor and the first floor can be accessed by this lift.
    • The lift door has a high colour contrast.
    • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
    • The weight limit for the lift is 800kg.
    • The control buttons have a low colour contrast.
    • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The lift door opening width is 79cm.
    • The internal dimensions of the lift are 133cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
    • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings.
    • The control buttons have a high colour contrast.
    • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • Internally the lift has: a visual floor indicator, an audible announcer, an intercom hearing assistance system and a mirror to aid reversing.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Stairs (Main Reception)

  • The stairs are located straight ahead past the Main Reception desk.
  • The lower ground floor and the ground floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are permanently held open doors to access the stairwell.
  • There are handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are 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 steps are clearly marked.
  • The height of the steps is not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm-45cm.
  • Lighting levels vary due to the use of large glazed walls.
  • There is a second set of stairs to the right of the main reception area, past the Chapman Concourse, for access to the ground floor for the Chapman Gallery and B Corridor.
  • There are furthers sets of stairs along the B Corridors towards the front of the building:
    • mid-way stairs for access between the lower ground and ground floor B Corridors, including for access to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, and C Corridor C200 to C216;
    • right-hand stairs near the Amphitheatre covered entrance for access between the lower ground floor B Corridor and C Corridor LC251 to LC260, and ground floor C Corridor C250 to C270.

Entrance (Rear Entrance - Coales Way)

  • This entrance is located to the rear of the building off the Coales Way access road between the Wright Building and the Main Building.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free access via a slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a steep gradient.
  • There are double manual doors.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • One of the doors was locked at the time of the survey.
  • The locked door can be opened on request.
  • The width of the opening is 84cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low colour contrast.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 153cm.
  • The doors have a high colour contrast.
  • There is step-free access via a very easy slope as you enter.
  • This entrance provides access to D Corridor.

Toilet with Adaptations (Lower Ground Floor - Main Reception - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location View
    • The toilet surveyed is located straight ahead past the Main Reception desk on the lower ground floor, on the left.
    • The distance from the College Lane Campus Main Reception entrance is 15m.
  • Route View
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There are no doors to open along the most accessible route.
  • Access View
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial, written text and numbered signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high colour contrast.
    • The width of the opening is 87cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door, with a high colour contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 154cm (width) x 208cm (depth).
    • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 72cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush for the toilet.
    • The flush is on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • There is a dropdown grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown grab rail has a high colour contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a high colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 96cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The wash basin and tap can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm from the floor.
    • There are vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high colour contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low colour contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 90cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high colour contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 94cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a long mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 152cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high colour contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.