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McEwan Hall

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 15 Bristo Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9AJ

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Access Guide

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Overview

  • About View
    • McEwan Hall is a medium sized building with 4 floors. .
    • There are 2 main lifts and 1 main staircase.
      There is also a lift between Pavilion Entrance and the Basement floor.
      There is also a lift between the between the ground floor and the first floor. .
    • The floors are signed as Basement, Ground, First and Second floor. .
  • Parking and Public Transport View
    • There is a campus car park, with Blue Badge parking available.
    • There is on-street Blue Badge Bay parking.
    • The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley Station.
    • The nearest bus station is Edinburgh Station.
    • There is a Blue badge bay located on Crichton Street. .
  • Related Access Guides View

Getting Inside

  • There is level access on approach from Teviot Place and the Old Medical School Car Park.
  • There is a steep slope bypassing steps on approach to the entrance from Bristo Square.
    .
  • There are Nine entrances into McEwan Hall. There are three entrances that provide access into McEwan Hall on the ground floor. There are four stepped entrances into the McEwan Hall on the ground floor. There are three alternative sets of entrance doors to the Pavilion lift that provide level access via a lift to the pavilion reception on the basement floor and ramped access to the rest of the basement floor.
  • The entrance of the Old Medical School Car Park is signed as Doorway 2 McEwan Hall Reception Room.
    The Pavilion entrances are signed as Welcome to the McEwan Hall.
  • The Main Entrance provides step free access to the ground floor of the of the building via a slight slope.
  • There is are three alternate sets of double automatic doors at the Pavilion Entrance. Two on the lower part of Bristo Square and one on the upper part of Bristo Square which have level access by lift. This entrance provides level access to the Pavilion Reception but there is a slight slope between the entrance and the main areas of the basement floor. These entrances are not in general use.
    There is an entrance with a slight slope from the Old Medical School Car Park signed as Doorway 2 McEwan Hall Reception Room.
    There is a stepped entrance for contractors towards the rear left of the Hall.
    There is a ramped entrance to the left of the hall which is usually kept locked.
    There are three stepped entrances into the Hall.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access to the majority of the building.
  • There is a slight slope between the Pavilion and the main area of McEwan Hall on the lower ground floor.
    There is a slight slope to access the 1.3 Reception lift. Accessible Toilet and Shower G.Z27 and robing rooms 1 and 2.
  • There are resting areas available on the lower ground floor.
  • Wayfinding signage is located throughout the building.
  • Manual doors are locate in some of the circulation routes.

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 5 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on the ground and the lower ground floors.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • Adapted toilet G.Z27 has an adapted shower in it.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground and the lower ground floors.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Standard changing facilities are located to the rear left of the building on the ground floor (Robing Rooms 1 and 2) and on the basement floor (Robing Suite).
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located on the ground and lower ground floors.
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • The shower facilities which have adaptations are located within Adapted toilet G.Z27 has an adapted shower in it.
    • Standard shower facilities are located in the Changing Rooms (Robing Rooms) on the ground floor.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the rear of McEwan Hall and is accessed of Teviot Place.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of block paving.
    • There are 2 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bay is signposted but has no markings.
    • There are no hatched/marked zones.
    • The nearest designated bay is 5m from Doorway 2. McEwan Hall Reception Room Entrance.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for Blue Badge holders and staff permit holders only.
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
    • 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 not 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.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 100cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 190cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.

Lift (New Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located to your right on entrance.
  • The distance from main entrance is 25m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access and a lift.
  • B, G, 1, 2 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, Braille 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 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 165cm (width) x 155cm (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 hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Lift (Reception Room)

  • The lift surveyed is located to the rear of the building.
  • The distance from main entrance is 60m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access, a slight ramp or slope and narrow walkways.
  • G, 1 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 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 100cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 155cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings, Braille 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 hearing assistance alarm system and a visual floor indicator.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs (New Staircase)

  • The stairs surveyed are located to the right of the building on entrance.
  • There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
  • Lower Ground, Ground, First and Second 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 16cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is a separate set of stairs reception room.
    There are spiral staircases from the Basement, Ground, First and Second floors.
    .

Reception (Pavilion)

  • The reception is located inside the Pavilion area on the lower ground floor.
  • The distance from the Pavilion Entrance lift is 12m.
  • 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 76cm.
  • 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.
  • 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).

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - G.Z1 Accessible Toilet - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to your left on entrance.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 20m.
    • 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 outwards and has a low visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a low visual contrast.
    • There is not a grab rail on the internal door .
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 160cm (width) x 210cm (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 95cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a wall sensor flush on the right 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 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 sensor 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 91cm 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 106cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is no emergency alarm.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin, a sanitary bin and a clinical waste bin.
    • There are no coat hooks.
    • 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.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - G.Z27 - Left Hand Transfer - With Shower)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located to the rear of the hall.
    • The distance from the main entrance is 70m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, a slight ramp or slope and narrow walkways.
    • 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 90cm.
    • The door has a twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
    • There is not a grab rail on the internal door .
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 160cm (width) x 320cm (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 90cm (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 80cm 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 80cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a high visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 88cm from the floor.
    • There is no emergency alarm.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has 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 an adapted shower in the cubicle.
      It has a flip down seat at a height of 50cm.
      There are lever mixer controls at a height of 105cm.
      There is a fixed shower head at a height of 190cm.