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Chrystal Macmillan Building

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 15a George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • The Chrystal Macmillan Building is a large building with 8 floors.
    • There are 2 main lifts with 3 main staircases.
    • The floors are signed as Basement, Ground, first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
    • There is on-street Blue Badge Bay parking and on-street standard parking.
    • The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
    • The nearest bus station is Edinburgh Bus Station.
    • The nearest tram stop is Princes Street.
    • The on-street Blue Badge bay is located outside 29 George Square.
  • Related Access Guides View

Getting Inside

  • There is a mostly level approach to the building.
  • The Chrystal Macmillan Building has 2 external entrances.
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  • The main entrance is signed as Chrystal Macmillan Building - School of Social and Political Science.
    The basement entrance is signed as the Chrystal Macmillan Building.
    There is limited signage for the links between the William Robertson Wing and the Chrystal Macmillan Building.
  • The main entrance has two sets of automatic doors and is accessed by a slight ramp which overcomes steps and gives access to the foyer on the ground floor.
  • The basement entrance is accessed by a long ramp and consists of a single automatic door.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors.
  • There is a slight slope with handrails on both sides to access lift 2 and the link to the William Robertson wing on the ground floor, this ramp bypasses a set of 6 steps.
    There is a slight slope to access lift 2 from the rest of the basement floor.
  • Floor surfaces along the circulation routes are predominantly carpeted, some floor surfaces are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating.
  • There is walled mounted wayfinding signage located throughout the building.

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.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 10+ toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located to the rear of the building and to the right of the building on all floors.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground and basement floors.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Standard changing facilities are located on the lower ground floor.
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located to the rear of the ground floor.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street designated Blue Badge parking and standard parking is available .
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located outside 29 George Square.
    • The streets are cobbled and uneven, which may cause difficulty for wheelchair users, and for those with mobility issues or visual impairment.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located off George Square.
  • 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 ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with handrails on both sides.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 3 steps with 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 steps are unmarked.
  • The steps have tactile markings at the top and bottom.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 160cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 170cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.

Reception

  • The reception is located to your right on entrance.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 15m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 110cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 79cm.
  • The reception has glazed screens.
  • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
  • 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.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located towards the rear of the ground floor.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 15m.
  • The basement, ground, first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 80cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 105cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have 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 visual floor indicator, an audible announcer and a list of floor services/facilities.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located to your right on entrance.
  • The basement, ground and first 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 step is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Gender Neutral - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located towards the rear of the ground floor.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 30m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards 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 high 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 222cm (width) x 242cm (depth) and there is room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left as you face the toilet.
    • The lateral transfer space is 126cm (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 high 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 high visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 105cm 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 cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high 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 100cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 104cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is an unobstructed shelf.
    • The shelf meets the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are multiple coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 105cm and 140cm from the floor.
    • The height of the baby change facility when in use is 83cm.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.