Skip to main content
The new name for DisabledGo

Search for accessible places to go

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Appleton Tower

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 11 Crichton Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9LE

View Accessibility Symbols

Accessibility Symbols

For more information about what these symbols mean, view our Accessibility Symbols Guide.

Close this popup window.

Access Guide

Show Easy Read

Overview

Emergency Egress for Building

  • General Building Information View
    • Please note the fire evacuation strategy from the upper floors of this building relies on the ability to self-transfer into an evacuation chair.

Site/Campus Car Park (Windmill Lane)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the rear of 40 George Square.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are 40 George Square.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available.
    • The Blue Badge bay(s) is/are clearly marked.
    • There is/are 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) within this car park.
    • The dimensions of the designated parking bay(s) are 490cm x 630cm (16ft 1in x 20ft 8in).
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by Blue Badge holders and permit holders.
    • There are no parking charges that apply on the day.
    • Signs are provided to give information on parking charges/restrictions.
    • Signs are clearly presented.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is sloped access to the car park from the 40 George Square Learning Hub.
    • This car park is not clearly signposted from the 40 George Square Lower Ground Teaching Hub.
    • The nearest designated bay is 14m (15yd 11in) from the 40 George Square Learning Hub Windmill Lane entrance.

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the left of Appleton Tower.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of cobbles and block paving.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 240cm (width) x 480cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides and rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 120cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 26m from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp or slope, uneven surfaces and bollards.
    • At the time of survey (September 2024) the parking to the side of Appleton Tower was used by building contractors.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for Blue Badge holders only.
    • Parking is not free for all users.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street designated Blue Badge parking is available .
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located Windmill Street.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked.
  • Public Car Parks View
    • There is a public car park located Nicolson Square.
    • The name of the car park is Nicolson Square Car Park.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are available in the car park.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

Rooms and Services in the Building

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free via a slight slope.
  • Appleton Tower has two entrances. The main entrance has a push pad activated, single automatic door (the alternative being a manual revolving door).
  • The main entrance is not named, (signed as Appleton Tower).
    The other entrance is not named or signed.
  • The main entrance provides step-free level access to the reception foyer on the ground floor.
  • The west entrance is a single manual door and has stepped access,located in Crichton Street.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors.
  • On the level 1 also referred to as the mezzanine level, there is a slight slope to access rooms M1 and M2.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with mixture of seating.
  • Wayfinding signage is provided throughout the building.
  • There are manual doors in some lobby areas.

Main Entrance

  • This entrance is located to the front of Appleton Tower off Chapel Street.
  • 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 is a key fob/card reader at a height of 99cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 81cm.
  • The width of the opening is 224cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 115cm.

Reception

  • The reception is located to the right of the main entrance.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 8m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 109cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 76cm.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre in the seating area (150cm x 150cm).
  • There is space for an assistance dog to rest in the seating area.
  • Seating available in this area includes: sofas and stools.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located on the lower ground floor, to the left of reception.
  • The distance from the east entrance is 8m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The basement, ground and floors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a low visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The lift door opening width is 99cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 183cm (width) x 208cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a mirror to aid reversing, a hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There are other lifts available at this location which are of a similar size.

Stairs Main Entrance

  • The stairs surveyed are located on the lower ground floor, directly ahead from the main entrance.
  • The lower ground, ground and floors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 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 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 height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

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

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the lower ground floor, to the front of the building.
    • The distance from the east entrance is 25m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access and manual doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 205cm (width) x 268cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right as you face the toilet.
    • The lateral transfer space is 140cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 41cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a high visual contrast.
    • There is not a wall mounted toilet roll holder.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 99cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 103cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • There is a second door that gives access to the toilet, the door width is 93cm.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer -Hoist)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the right of the concourse, at the rear.
    • The distance from the concourse entrance is 36m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, a lift and automatic doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 87cm.
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a grab rail on the internal door with a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 159cm (width) x 231cm (depth) and there is not room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 79cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a high visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 48cm from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 111cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 72cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rails are on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rails have a high visual contrast.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 99cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 98cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a full length mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin.
    • There are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 166cm and 178cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.