THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH OLD COLLEGE

Transcription

1 THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH OD COEGE A GUIDE TO ACCESS AND FACIITIES Old College University of Edinburgh Old College South Bridge Edinburgh EH8 9Y Phone

2 Disabled Access Guide for The Old College This building is designed for, or has been adapted for the use of persons in wheelchairs, persons who have difficulty with mobility or are infirm. Seating is available. Accessible and standard toilets are also available. Introduction The original College of the University of Edinburgh was founded in 1583 at the instigation of Edinburgh Town Council. The site chosen was that of the Collegiate Church of St. Mary in the Fields, known locally as Kirk 0' Field, which is contained within the present area of Old College. The first Principal was Robert Rollock, a graduate of St. Andrews and disciple of George Buchanan. The foundation stone of the present Old College was laid in 1789, with the original plan of the building prepared by Robert Adam (born in Kirkcaldy and buried in Westminster Abbey) who died in before the building had been completed. Robert Adam, himself an Edinburgh alumnus, was chosen to draw up plans for the new building - now known as Old College. His original designs provided for a double quadrangle, but of this, only the east front and the north-west corner were to be built. After his death, in 1792, his brothers, James and William, supervised the remaining building work carried out in the 179Os. It was Robert Adam who was responsible for the magnificent vaulted entrance to the College with its monolithic Roman Doric columns (the largest single pieces ever cut from Craigleith Quarry). After Adam's death the work on Old College was hindered by the Napoleonic Wars and it was not until 1816 that William Playfair, at the age of 27, was appointed to complete the building. Playfair made several alterations to the original plan, the most important of which was the removal of a proposed cross building which would have divided the existing quadrangle. Playfair was also responsible for the terrace with the flights of steps, the Playfair ibrary Hall - which now has his name - and the Natural History Museum (now the Talbot Rice Gallery).

3 This internal view shows the east block, with terrace but still at this stage without the dome. By the end of the century, a fountain and a statue of Sir David Brewster had also joined the landscape - though both have since been removed.

4 If you require this document in an alternative format e.g. large print please contact Disability Service at the University Main ibrary or telephone or write to: Student Disability Service The University of Edinburgh Third Floor The Main ibrary Building George Square Edinburgh EH8 9J.

5 Note: Although a building may have suitable access, it is import that confirmation is sought that there are emergency evacuation procedures in place. Therefore, it will be necessary to contact your director of studies/ line manager to enable the preparation of a personnel emergency evacuation plan (peep). This will ensure that facilities and procedures are in place in the event of an emergency, or that alternative locations are used. Refer to layout plans showing emergency exit points

6 We have also put in place disabled evacuation lifts and emergency evacuation procedures for wheelchair users in the event of fire. ocation The Old College is located within what is referred to as the Central Area South Campus of Edinburgh University and extremely well served by bus. The building is within approx a quarter mile of the city centre and within 1 mile of the main student residences at Pollock Halls. The nearest railway line is at Waverley Station in the city centre. The main pedestrian access to the Old College, which lies between South Bridge and Chambers Street is from South Bridge. Persons with mobility difficulties arriving by vehicle can access THE OD COEGE via South Bridge, Chambers Street and West College Street, although the two latter are best used if you are a wheelchair user. (see the map on the following page) Bus stops on South Bridge are approximately 150yards from the main entrance and are located on the east and west sides of South Bridge and also Chambers Street (although this bus stop is approximately 200yards from the entrance).

7 1 South Bridge Chambers Street 2 CHAPE STREET Old College Royal Museum of Scotland 3 South College Street pedstrian access points Chambers Street (disabled access) 1 South Bridge 2 West College Street 3 (disabled access) Public transport bus stop Reception areas for aw (a), Old College (b) and Registry (c) Parking The Central Area Campus has numerous parking areas, but there is no free parking. The surrounding area parking is generally pay and display. Parking for the disabled is recommended to be on Chambers Street; this offers the most level access to the building. The upper level of the Old College can be accessed from West College Street, but on an incline over cobbles. This could be suggested only as a drop-off point - West College is NOT recommended for parking. Chambers Street offers excellent parking and is a very short distance from Old College. The route from pay and display parking bays is accessible by wheelchair, the footpaths are of a very good standard. There are no disabled parking bays in the adjacent streets, but Blue Badge holders do have the opportunity to park in some restricted areas.

8 ift Ramp Stair ift Standard Toilets Accessible Toilets Wheelchair access route *Access routes for persons with mobility problems CHAMBERS STREET WEST COEGE STREET *This route however should be used with care (fairly steep and requires the use of stairs) BASEMENT FOOR PAN

9 Wheelchair access call point ift Ramp Standard Toilets Accessible Toilets Wheelchair access route *Access routes for persons with mobility difficulties CHAMBERS STREET A *This route however should be used with care (fairly steep and requires the use of stairs) B 2 C SOUTH COEGE STREET A B C AW Reception OD COEGE Reception REGISTRY Reception WEST COEGE STREET GROUND FOOR PAN

10 ift Ramp Standard Toilets WEST COEGE STREET FIRST FOOR PAN

11 Outside Access This information is for the Main Entrance located at the front of the building. There is level access (although steep) to the main entrance Quadrangle but there is no facility, as yet, for full disabled access to aw, Old College or Registry from South Bridge. (see maps) The main entrance doors to the above are double width but NOT automatic. Reception/s There are reception areas at the access points to AW, REGISTRY and OD COEGE. The Reception at AW is recommended as only accessible by wheelchair from the entry door located in Chambers Street. (This requires access via swipe card/keypad, followed by wheelchair lift, followed by a fairly straightforward corridor travel to the lift which allows exit adjacent to the reception area). The door immediately outside the reception area is power operated by a pressure pad. The Reception at OD COEGE is recommended as only accessible by wheelchair from the entry door in West College Street. The Reception at REGISTRY is recommended as only accessible by wheelchair from the entry door in West College Street. ifts and stairs - AW School for AW. Access to AW reception (from South Bridge) is via a steep gradient and steps. The main points of access being from the quadrangle and secondary entry point from the adjacent terrace. Access for wheelchair users is recommended from Chambers Street. There are stairs within AW, but as the age of the building suggests, the stairs are historic and are best used by persons without mobility issues. The stairs, again as should be expected, do not, and could not be compliant with the Equality Act without contravening the requirements of the department of Historic Buildings, Scotland. The lift call points are not fully Equality Act compliant; but do incorporate many aspects of compliancy with regard to audible announcement, low level lift buttons. The lifts do not incorporate mirrors to the back wall of the car. The lift call points are at a comfortable height for the wheelchair user. The lift car controls are within easy reach of a wheelchair user. The lighting level in the lift is bright. The lift control panel does not have Braille markings.

12 The lift does have a tactile floor covering The lifts have visual floor indicators The lifts have an audible announcer STAIRS The stairwell steps are not clearly marked The stairwell steps have handrails on each side The exit/entrance doors to the stairs, while generous in width, are fairly heavy. The building has fire alarm sounder and beacons throughout. Generally the upper level libraries are readily accessible by wheelchair users, any adjoining zones with differing floor levels are accessed by negotiable ramps. The external fire exit doors are of traditional design for the age of the building, where possible panic latches and thumbturns have been installed. Toilets - AW Toilet facilities in AW are limited the toilets closest to AW reception are at this time limited to staff use. The closest accessible toilet is located at basement level, in the corridor to the right hand side of the Chambers Street disabled access. The standard toilets are also at basement level, located in the corridor adjacent to the AW lift. Unfortunately the other accessible toilet and standard toilets are on the second floor level, they are however located adjacent to the lift entrance lobby. The accessible toilets are at the time of writing requiring to be fitted with additional support rails and an emergency pull chord. ifts and stairs Old College Access to the OD COEGE reception (from South Bridge) is via a steep gradient and steps. The main points of access being from the quadrangle terrace. Access for wheelchair users is recommended from the Talbot Rice Gallery entrance in West College Street. The main stair within the Old College primarily serves the large Playfair ibrary Hall, but also the administration offices on first floor level. The stair does have handrails on each side, but is not recommended for those persons with mobility issues. There is lift access to the first floor within fairly close proximity to the reception - (27metres). STAIRS The lift call points are not fully Equality Act complian and do not incorporate many aspects of required compliancy and do not have audible announcements, but do have low level lift buttons. The lifts do not incorporate mirrors to the back wall of the car. The lift call points are at a comfortable height for the wheelchair user.

13 The lift car controls are within easy reach of a wheelchair user. The lighting level in the lift is bright. The control panel does not have Braille markings. The lift has a tactile floor covering. The lifts also have visual floor indicators. The lifts do not have an audible announcer. Toilets Old College Toilet facilities in Old College (Ground Floor) are located adjacent to the reception and include both accessible and standard toilets male and female. There are accessible toilets at basement level as well as standard male and female toilets; however they are not particularly accessible from ground floor level without significant travel. ifts and stairs Registry Registry reception (from South Bridge) is via a steep gradient and steps. The main points of access being from the quadrangle terrace. Access for wheelchair users is recommended from the Talbot Rice Gallery entrance in West College Street. The stairs which serve the Registry mezzanine are not recommended for use by persons with mobility difficulties. Toilets within Registry are very limited; the staff using the toilets within Old College. There are no public toilets within Registry. Additional Information Documents can be requested in large print Floor plans are available Campus maps are available at:

14 South Bridge (entrance ramp 1 ) South Bridge (entrance ramp 2 ) Quadrangle Quadrangle (looking toward AW)

15 Talbot Rice Entrance (West College Street) West College Street

16 A A Talbot Rice Entrance (leading to Registry and Old College)

17 Old College First Floor Old College Main Stair

18 AW Reception AW Reception and link to ibrary

19 aw Chambers Street (disabled access)