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Institute of Astronomy (Hoyle Building)

University of Cambridge, Madingley Rise , Cambridge, CB3 0HA

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Access Guide

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Introduction

Getting Here

Useful Information

Building Parking

  • The building does have its own dedicated parking.
  • Building Car Park View
    • The car park can be used by Blue Badge holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • The car park is located in front of the building.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • There is/are 1 designated parking bay(s) within the car park.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are signposted but have no markings.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 250cm x 670cm (8ft 2in x 21ft 12in).
    • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders do need to be booked in advance.
    • The nearest designated bay is 3m (3yd 10in) from the main entrance.
    • The route from the car park to the building is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is / are slopes/ramps.
    • The car park surface is block paving.
  • Site/Campus Car Parks View
    • There is not a site/campus car park within approximately 200m.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the building.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • 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 87cm (2ft 10in).
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double (with one leaf locked).
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 88cm (2ft 11in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • There is a ramp/slope at this entrance.
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is slight.

Entrance (Kavli Building Link)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the rear of the building on the first floor.
    • There is step free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) is / are permanently held open (at the time of the survey).
    • The width of the door opening is 101cm (3ft 4in).
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are single.
    • The door(s) is / are permanently held open (at the time of the survey).
    • The width of the door opening is 110cm (3ft 7in).

Reception

  • The building reception is located to the right as you enter.
  • The desk is 1m (3ft 3in) from the main entrance.
  • The reception area is clearly 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 high (110cm+).
  • 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

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There is/are 10+ unmarked step(s), with handrails on both sides, for access to the rear of the lecture theatre.
    • The step(s) is/are deep (18cm+).
    • These steps are shown in photographs 1 and 2.
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is not clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is clearly written and pictorial 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.

Lecture Theatre(s) (The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Lecture Theatre)

  • Directional and locational signage for the lecture theatre(s) is available in upper and lower case lettering that is clearly visible.
  • The corridor outside the lecture theatre(s) is sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
  • There is step free access into the lecture theatre(s).
  • The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the lecture theatre(s).
  • The door(s) for the lecture theatre(s) is/are not push pad activated.
  • There are designated spaces for wheelchair users within the lecture theatre(s).
  • The designated spaces for wheelchairs users are located at the front.
  • There is level access to the designated seating from an entrance.
  • There is space for an assistance dog.
  • There is step free access to the speaker's area at the front of the lecture theatre(s).
  • The height of the speaker's desk/table is 84cm.
  • The speaker's desk/table is not height adjustable.
  • There is staggered seating within the lecture theatre(s).
  • The steps to the staggered seating do have handrails.
  • The steps have handrails which are wall mounted on either side of the room.
  • There is a hearing assistance system for the lecture theatre(s).
  • There is not a visual fire alarm beacon in the lecture theatre(s).
  • There is fixed furniture within the lecture theatre(s).
  • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre within the lecture theatre(s).
  • The clear floor space beneath tables in the lecture theatre(s) ranges between 69cm and 72cm.
  • A height adjustable table/bench is not available.
  • There is a/are chair(s) with armrests on both sides within the lecture theatre(s).
  • Floor coverings in the lecture theatre(s) are even with no trip hazards.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, UG and 1.
    • The stairs are located in the centre of the building to the left as you enter.
    • The stairs are approximately 20m from the main entrance.
    • The lighting levels are medium.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.
    • There is a similar staircase at the far left of the building.
  • Comments View
    • There are 6 steps between the ground and upper ground floor and 15 steps between the upper ground and first floor.

Lift

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located in the centre of the building to the left as you enter.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G, UG and 1.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 630kg.
  • The lift is approximately 25m (27yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 110cm x 140cm (3ft 7in x 4ft 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 does not have 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.
  • Comments View
    • The lift controls mark the upper ground floor as 1 and the first floor as 2.

Location of Toilet/Changing Facilities

  • Accessible toilet facilities are located in the centre of the building on the ground floor, off the Corfield Wing.
  • Female and male standard toilet facilities are located on the ground and first floors.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located in the centre of the building on the ground floor, off the Corfield Wing.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 29m (31yd 2ft) from the main 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 pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is fair.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is heavy.
    • The door is locked by a twist lock.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 87cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 220cm x 230cm (7ft 3in x 7ft 7in).
    • The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the right.
    • The lateral transfer space is 150cm (4ft 11in).
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • There is not a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail 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 both sides.
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
    • There is 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 good.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm was out of reach (higher than 10cm (4") from floor) when surveyed.
    • 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 a/are coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 147cm from the floor.
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • There is a mirror.
    • The mirror is placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The toilet has a backrest.
    • There is a lid attached to the toilet seat.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • 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 good.
    • 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 poor.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 100cm.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The contrast between the towel dispenser and the wall is good.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
  • Accessible Shower View
    • The shower does have an unobstructed minimum 150cm x 150cm turning space.
    • There is a shower unit with a detachable shower head.
    • The shower head is height adjustable.
    • The adjustable shower head cannot be placed between 105cm and 185cm when mounted.
    • There is a flip-down/tip-up seat for the shower.
    • The seat/chair is not height adjustable.
    • The height of the flip-down/tip-up or fixed seat is 45cm (1ft 6in).
    • There are not horizontal and/or dropdown rails available on both sides of the shower seat.
    • The colour contrast between the shower rails and wall is poor.
    • There is a vertical grab rail for the shower.
    • The colour contrast between the vertical grab rail(s) for the shower and wall is poor.
    • There is not an emergency alarm for the shower.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The female and male toilets are located in the centre of the building on the ground floor.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 32m from the main entrance.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • It was not possible to access the female toilet.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 85cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.
  • Toilet Facilities 2 View
    • The female and male toilets are located to the right as you exit the lift on the first floor.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s), via lift.
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 12m from the lift.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • It was not possible to access the female toilet.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is not available.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 84cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is twist/turn.
    • Lighting levels are good.