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Hugh Robson Building

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

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step free level.
  • The entrance to the Hugh Robson Building is push pad activated, or by double manual doors.
  • The entrance is signed Hugh Robson Building.
  • The entrances provides step free access to the ground floor.
  • There are manual doors in circulation areas.

Getting Around

  • There is step free access throughout the building, via lift.
  • Floor surfaces along most routes are shiny.
  • There are no resting areas in the circulation.
  • There is wayfinding signage throughout the building.
  • There are manual doors after exiting the stairwells on each floor. There are doors permanently held open after the lifts on each floor.

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.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 3 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the ground, second, third and fourth floor.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • There is a gender neutral toilet with adaptions located on the ground floor.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground floor.

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

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 89cm.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens towards you.
  • There is a push pad at a height of 100cm.
  • The width of the opening is 88cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The door has a medium visual contrast.
  • There are 2 sets of double manual doors left of the accessible entrance, both sets of doors are medium contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception

  • The reception is located ahead from the entrance.
  • The distance from the entrance is 4m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 80cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 72cm.
  • 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: sofas.
  • The chairs are fixed.

Lift (North East)

  • The lift surveyed is located left from reception.
  • The distance from the entrance is 10m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and manual doors.
  • B, G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The external lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 82cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 100cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit and a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift (North West)

  • The lift surveyed is located in the north west quarter of the building, right of reception.
  • The distance from the entrance is 33m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and manual doors.
  • B, G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are accessed by this lift.
  • The lift door has a high visual contrast.
  • The lift does not have a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The external lift control buttons have a medium visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 120cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 125cm (width) x 180cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift (North East Stairwell)

  • The lift surveyed is located in the north east stairwell, at the rear of the building.
  • The distance from the entrance is 20m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and manual doors.
  • B, M, G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 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 medium visual contrast.
  • All of the external lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • The lift door opening width is 120cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 137cm (width) x 160cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a medium visual contrast.
  • All of the internal lift controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
  • Internally the lift has: a separate door to exit, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs (North East)

  • The stairs surveyed are located right of reception, at the rear of the building.
  • B, M, G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have 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 does 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 vary due to the size of the space.

Stairs (North West)

  • The stairs surveyed are located left from reception.
  • B, G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps are clearly marked and have 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 does 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 vary due to the size of the space.

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

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located left from reception.
    • The distance from the entrance is 12m.
    • 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 inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 77cm.
    • 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 192cm (width) x 302cm (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, however it is obstructed.
    • The lateral transfer space is 120cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever 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.
    • The toilet has a padded backrest.
    • There is a wall mounted toilet roll holder which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder has a medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 109cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 73cm 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 medium visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 94cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted towel dispenser which cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser has a low visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 126cm from the floor.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a medium 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 mirror.
    • There is an unobstructed shelf.
    • The shelf meets the AccessAble criteria for Stoma Friendly Toilets.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • The walls and floor have a medium visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.