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Columbia House

69 Aldwych, London, WC2B 4RR

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Ground Floor - Entrance Lobby
    First Floor - Data Science Institute
    Second Floor - Department of Mathematics
    Third Floor - Department of Mathematics
    Fourth Floor - Department of Mathematics
    Fifth Floor - Department of Mathematics, Department of Statistics
    Sixth Floor - Department of Statistics
    Seventh Floor - Department of Statistics
    Eighth Floor - Department of Statistics.
  • Related link LSE Garrick.
  • Https://www.accessable.co.uk/london-school-of-economics/access-guides/lse-garrick
  • Comments View
    • The only step free access to Columbia House is provided by entering LSE Garrick and taking the lift to reach the first floor of Columbia House.
    • Staff permission will have to be gained to do this because a key is needed to reach the first floor.

Building Parking

  • The building does not have its own dedicated parking.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is not a car park for public use within 200m (approx).
  • On Street Parking View
    • Clearly signed and / or standard marked parking bays are available.
    • The dimensions of the standard marked parking bays are 200cm x 600cm (6ft 7in x 19ft 8in).
    • The on street standard parking bay(s) is/are located on Aldwych.
  • Comments View
    • The parking is pay by phone from 08:30 - 18:30 Monday - Saturday.

Outside Access (LSE Garrick Aldwych Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off Aldwych.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is / are permanently held open.
    • The width of the door opening is 123cm (4ft).
  • 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.
    • The door(s) is / are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 106cm (3ft 6in).
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance.
    • The ramp/slope gradient is easy.
    • The ramp is permanent.

Lift (LSE Garrick Lift)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the rear of the cafe.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are B-G.
  • Wall mounted information boards are not provided at lift landings.
  • The lift is approximately 18m (19yd 2ft) from the LSE Garrick Aldwych 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 have a hearing loop 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 bright.
  • Comments View
    • The lift can also be used to access the first floor of Columbia House. A member of staff is needed to help with this.

Outside Access (Main Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located on the northern side of Aldwych, next to Houghton Street.
    • There is stepped access at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) is/are permanently held open.
    • The width of the door opening is 161cm (5ft 3in).
  • Second Set of Doors View
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) both ways.
    • The door(s) is / are double.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 144cm (4ft 9in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located in front of the entrance.
    • There is / are 2 step(s) to access the entrance.
    • There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the step(s).
    • The step(s) is / are clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do not have handrails.

Outside Access (Data Science Institute)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located off Houghton Street.
    • There is ramped/sloped and stepped access at this entrance.
    • A key card is required for access at this entrance.
    • The height of the card reader/lock is 114cm (3ft 9in).
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is / are double (with one leaf locked).
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 62cm (2ft).
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of less than 2cm.
  • 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) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the door opening is 85cm (2ft 9in).
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a / are step(s) at this entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are located between the entrance doors.
    • There is / are 15+ step(s) to access the entrance.
    • The step(s) is / are clearly marked.
    • The step(s) is / are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The handrails are on the right going up the step(s).

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step free access throughout the building via lift(s).
    • There is a slight ramp, with no handrails, for access to the second floor from the main lift.
    • This ramp is shown in photographs 5 and 6. There are similar ramps on leaving the lift lobby on floors 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
    • There are doors in corridors which have to be opened manually.
  • Getting Around View
    • There is clear signage for building facilities/areas in the foyer/reception area.
    • There is clearly written directional signage at key points of circulation routes.
    • There is some flooring in corridors which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is high visual contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
    • This building does not play background music.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are B-G-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
    • The stairs are located around the main lift.
    • The stairs are approximately 8m from the main entrance.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, single doors which may be difficult to open to access the stairwell from the first floor upwards.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are deep (18cm+).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.

Lift (Columbia House Main Lift)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located straight ahead as you enter from the Main Entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are B-G-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8.
  • Wall mounted information boards are provided at lift landings.
  • There are manual, single doors which may be difficult to open to access the lift lobby from the first floor upwards.
  • The weight limit for the lift is 450kg.
  • The lift is approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the LSE Garrick lift.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 60cm (1ft 12in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 105cm x 105cm (3ft 5in x 3ft 5in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is 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 good.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located on the first floor, in the Data Science Institute next to the kitchen area.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 22m (24yd 2in) from the main lift.
    • 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 Braille, tactile and pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The visual contrast between the external door and wall is high.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The door is locked by a lever twist.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 86cm (2ft 10in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is high.
    • The door does not have a horizontal grab rail.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 114cm x 216cm (3ft 9in x 7ft 1in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The height of the light switch/pull cord is 100cm from floor level.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a sanitary bin.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is high.
    • 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 visual contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is high.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is high.
    • 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 sanitary disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • The height of the coat hook is 169cm 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.
    • There is a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • The shelf has the minimum dimensions of 12.5cm x 40cm.
    • The shelf is at a height of 97cm.
    • The shelf is located where it is reachable.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat visual contrast is high.
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 116cm (3ft 10in).
    • The visual contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is high.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 75cm (2ft 6in).
    • There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the left hand side of the wash basin.
    • The visual contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is high.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 116cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 103cm (3ft 5in).
    • The visual contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is low.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Location of Standard Toilet(s) View
    • There are female standard toilets facilities on the eighth floor.
  • Standard Toilet Surveyed View
    • A male standard toilet was surveyed.
    • The toilet surveyed is located between the ground floor and basement floor.
    • Lighting levels in the standard toilet surveyed are good.
  • Comments View
    • There are male toilets on the staircase in between floors B-G, 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8.
    • There are female toilets on the staircase in between floors G-1, 2-3, 4-5 and 6-7.