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New College Assembly Hall

The University of Edinburgh, Central Area, 1 The Mound, Edinburgh, EH1 2LU

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free via very slight slopes.
    The courtyard entrance on Mound Place is accessed via a steep slope.
  • The step-free approach to the building is from Mound Place.
  • New College Assembly Hall has 3 entrances.
    The Courtyard Entrance which is step-free via steep slope must be used to access the other entrances.
    The entrance from Rainy Hall provides step-free level access.
    The main entrance to the New College Assembly Hall is stepped.
    All 3 entrances have manual doors which are permanently held open.
  • The Courtyard Entrance is signed as School of Divinity.
    The entrance from Rainy Hall is not signed.
    The New College Assembly Hall Entrance is signed as Assembly Hall.
  • The entrance from Rainy Hall (via the New College School of Divinity) provides step-free level access to the New College Assembly Hall on the main hall level and is the most accessible route into the building.
  • The Courtyard entrance provides step-free steep sloped access to the Courtyard and New College Assembly Hall entrances.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free sloped access throughout the majority of the building.
  • There is a steep ramp from Rainy Hall to access the New College Assembly Hall via a corridor with a toilet with adaptations.
    There are 8 steps or steep ramps, followed by 9 steps to access the standard toilets.
  • There are steep ramps and steps to access seating rows A - K in the New College Assembly Hall.
  • There is stepped access to seating rows N and O.
    There is steep ramped access to the speaker's area.
    There is stepped access to all seating in the Galleries.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a patterned and shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation areas with a mixture of seating.
  • Wall mounted wayfinding signage is provided throughout the building.
  • There are manual doors in some corridors.

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 is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located along the corridor leading from Rainy Hall to the New College Assembly Hall on the main hall level.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • Ambulant toilet facilities are located off of the stairs leading to the Galleries.
    • The female toilet facilities are located along the corridor on the left side of the New College Assembly Hall on the main hall level.
    • The male toilet facilities are located along the corridors on the left and right sides of the New College Assembly Hall on the main hall level.
  • Changing Places and Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located off the stairs leading to the Galleries.

Parking

  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street standard parking is available .
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located on Mound Place.

Entrance (from Rainy Hall - Accessible)

  • This entrance is located within Rainy Hall.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors are permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 136cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Entrance (Main)

  • This entrance is located straight ahead after entering the New College School of Divinity Courtyard.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is stepped access at the entrance.
  • There are 20+ steps with a central handrail.
  • 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 height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 15cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 202cm.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There are 8 steps between the first and second set of doors.
    There is a central handrail which is easy to grip and covers the flight of stairs throughout its length.
    The handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
    The highest step is 15cm and the steps are 30cm deep.
    The steps are unmarked.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 212cm.
  • The second set of doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located at the far end of the left corridor.
  • The distance from the Rainy Hall entrance is 120m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has steep ramps or slopes, manual doors and doors permanently held open.
  • The main hall level and galleries levels 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 low 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 110cm (width) x 140cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have tactile markings and a low visual contrast.
  • The majority of the internal 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 at the left end of the main corridor.
  • The main hall level and galleries levels can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps have some clear markings 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 15cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located along the corridor after entering via the entrance from Rainy Hall.
    • The distance from the entrance from the Rainy Hall entrance is 15m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has a steep ramp or slope 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 76cm.
    • The door has a sliding bolt 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 140cm (width) x 365cm (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 74cm (from the side of the toilet pan).
    • There is a lever flush on the transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a low visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 45cm 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 108cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 69cm 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 96cm from the floor.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • 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, however it is not within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is a mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a sanitary bin and a pedal bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 176cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
    • There is a second wash basin and soap dispenser in this toilet.
      The taps are twist turn.
      The height of the wash basin is 75cm.
      The height of the soap dispenser is 94cm.