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ECA Evolution House

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 78 West Port, Edinburgh, EH3 9DF

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • ECA Evolution House is a medium sized building with 6 floors.
    • There are 2 main lifts and 3 main staircases within the building.
    • The floors are signed as the ground, first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth floors.
  • Parking and Public Transport View
    • The venue has its own car park, with Blue Badge parking available.
    • The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
    • The nearest bus station is Edinburgh Bus Station.

Getting Inside

  • There are steep slopes on approach to the building on both West Port and Lady Lawson Street.
  • ECA Evolution House has two entrances into the building.
    The main entrance accesses the ground floor via a single manual door and a steep ramp.
    The car cark entrance is located off Lady Lawson Street and consists of two sets of manual doors with a slight slope in front of both the first and second doors. There is then a steep slope immediately beyond the second door. The car park entrance accesses the first floor.
  • The main entrance is signed as ECA Evolution House.
    The car park entrance is signed as Parking by Permit Only.
  • The main entrance provides ramped access to the ground floor.
    The main reception is located between the entrance and the ramp.
  • The car park entrance has both slight and steep slopes.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building.
  • 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 a mixture of seating.
  • There is wall mounted wayfinding signage 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 6 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located along the corridor on all floors.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The shared step-free toilet facilities are located along the corridor on all floors.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the rear of the building and is accessed off Lady Lawson Street.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of block paving.
    • There is 1 designated Blue Badge parking bay available.
    • The Blue Badge bay is clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 275cm (width) x 470cm (depth).
    • There is a marked zone to both sides and rear.
    • The width of the marked zone is 100cm.
    • The nearest designated bay is 20m from car park entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a very easy ramp or slope.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for permit holders and staff permit holders only.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • 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 ramp at the entrance.
  • There is an intercom at a height of 94cm.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 92cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 138cm.
  • There is an alternative manual door to your left on entrance with a width of 140cm.
  • There is step-free access via ramp as you enter.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with a handrail on the right going up.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 3 steps with a handrail on the left going up.
  • The handrail is easy to grip.
  • The handrail covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail extends horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are clearly marked.
  • 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.

Entrance (Rear Car Park Entrance)

  • This entrance is located towards the rear of the building on the first floor off Lady Lawson Street.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with no handrails.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 104cm.
  • There is a single manual door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 92cm.
  • The door has a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second single manual door.
  • The second door opens towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 88cm.
  • The second door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is step-free access via ramp as you enter.
  • The ramp has a steep gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with no handrails.

Reception

  • The reception is located to your left on entrance.
  • The distance from main entrance is 10m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 82cm.
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • The flooring is shiny.
  • 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: benches.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located to your right on entrance.
  • The distance from main entrance is 30m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • Ground, First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a medium 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 a low visual contrast.
  • The lift door opening width is 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 140cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
  • Some 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 and a list of floor services/facilities.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • Lighting levels are adjustable.
  • There are other lifts available at this location which vary in size.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located towards the rear of the building.
  • Ground, first, second, third, fourth and fifth 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 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 steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

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

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located towards the rear of the building on the ground floor.
    • The distance from main entrance is 45m.
    • 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 low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 84cm.
    • The door has a 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 150cm (width) x 195cm (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.
    • The lateral transfer space is 80cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a spatula flush on the left 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 100cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 74cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • The vertical grab rail is on the left as you face the wash basin.
    • The wash basin grab rail has a low 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 90cm 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.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is no mirror.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 178cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.