Access Guide

Search Access Guide

Overview

About View
- The Howard Building is a medium sized rectangular building with 3 floors.
- There is 1 main staircase within the building, with a second staircase for access between the first and second floors.
- The first and second floors were out of bounds for the purposes of access at the time of survey (January 2026).
- There are no toilet facilities.
Parking and Public Transport View
- There is a campus car park, with Blue Badge parking available.
- The nearest step-free train station is Barnes.
- Step-free access from platforms may be via nearby streets, rather than via lift between platforms.
- For the latest travel options and information you can plan your travel using Google Maps (Digby Stuart College Campus) (opens new tab).
- View information on getting here (opens new tab).
Related Access Guides View
- Please refer to the Richardson Building or Medical Centre guides for parking information.
- View information on Richardson Building (opens new tab).
- View information on Medical Centre (opens new tab).
- View information on Newman House (opens new tab).

The approach to the building from Digby Stuart Square is step-free and level.
The approach to the building from the direction of Bede House is via a slope with a slight gradient.
The approach to the building from the Dorothy Buchanan Building is via a ramp with a steep gradient.
There is 1 external main entrance and 4 internal entrances into the building.
There are automatic doors at the main entrance opposite the Digby Den and Diner.
There are 3 internal entrances on the ground floor, and 1 internal entrance on the first floor.
There are ground floor internal entrances from the adjacent Dorothy Buchanan Building and Newman House, and from The Shop.
There is a first floor internal entrance from the adjacent Dorothy Buchanan Building.
The main entrance is signed as 'HOWARD Department of Humanities'.
The main entrance provides step-free level access to the ground floor.
The internal ground floor entrances from the Dorothy Buchanan Building, Newman House, and The Shop provide step-free level access to the ground floor.
The internal first floor entrances from the Dorothy Buchanan Building provide separate stepped access to the first and second floors .

There is step-free access throughout the ground floor.
There is only stepped access to the first floor upwards.
There are 3 deep steps off the main stairwell on the second floor for access to rooms HO.202 to HO.205.
Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
There is no seating available in circulation areas.
There are manual doors along circulation routes throughout the building.

This entrance is located beneath the covered walkway between Newman House and the Howard Building, opposite the entrance to the Digby Den and Diner.
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 an entry system at a height of 88cm.
There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
The doors open towards you.
The width of the opening is 190cm.
There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
The doors have a high visual contrast.
There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 83cm.
There is a second set of double manual doors.
The second set of doors open towards you.
The width of the opening is 130cm.
The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.
There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 114cm.

The stairs surveyed are located through the left-hand doors after the main entrance.
There are double manual doors to access the stairwell.
The ground, first, second and third floors 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 not 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 18cm.
The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
There are alternative stairs from the first floor of the Dorothy Buchanan Building for access to the second floor.