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John Owens Building

The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free and level.
  • There are bollards at the entrance gate to access the Old Quadrangle and main entrance.
  • John Owens Building has seven entrances, four provide step-free level access, two have automatic doors, three were held open and two were manual.
  • The main entrance is signed John Owens Building Main Entrance.
    The accessible entrance is not named (signed John Owens Building).
    The other entrances are signed as Ex-Botany, Through To Burlington Street, Through To Back Quadrant and John Owens Building.
    The stepped internal entrance from Beyer Building is signed as Beyer.
  • The main entrance provides step-free level access to the stairs between the Lower Ground and Ground Floor.
    The accessible entrance provides step-free level access to the Lower Ground Floor.
  • The first Ex-Botany entrance provides step-free level access with manual doors. There is no access to the main part of the John Owens Building from this entrance.
    The second Ex-Botany entrance provides step-free level access with manual doors but accesses a stairwell landing. There is no access to the main part of the John Owens Building from this entrance.
    The Through To Burlington Street entrance provides step-free level access with a door permanently held open. This door accesses security and offices. There is currently no access to the main part of the John Owens Building from this entrance.
    The Through To Back Quadrant entrance provides step-free access via a steep ramp with automatic doors. These doors access security and offices. There is currently no access to the main part of the John Owens Building from this entrance.
  • The John Owens Building entrance from the car park provides step-free level access with manual doors.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free access throughout the majority of the building via a platform lift.
    There are six steps to access The Income Office.
    The Second Floor in the main part of the building is only accessible by stairs, this area only contains offices.
    There is a lift in the Ex-Botany area of the building which accesses all floors. This area only contains offices.
    There is a ramp and automatic doors to access the lift and stairs in the Student Services Area of the building.
    There are stairs in the old Student Services Centre area of the building which access the Ground Floor, First Floor and Second Floor.
    There is a lift in the old Student Services Centre area of the building which accesses the Ground Floor and First Floor.
  • There are narrow corridors, low doorways and stepped access only to the Second Floor. This area only contains offices.
  • There is internal access between Beyer Building and John Owens Building via six steps on the Lower Ground floor.
  • There is internal access to the Ex-Botany area of the building on the First Floor.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
    Some surfaces are carpeted, smooth and patterned.
  • There is no seating in circulation areas throughout the building.
  • Wall mounted wayfinding signage is provided throughout the building.
  • There are some double manual doors to access secondary corridors.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 3 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located on Lower Ground and First Floor within the main part of the building, and on the First Floor in the staff area of the old Student Services Centre.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • Ambulant toilet facilities are located on the Lower Ground Floor and First Floor.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located on the Lower Ground Floor and the First Floor .
    • The gender inclusive toilet facilities are located on the Ground Floor.
    • The male and female toilet facilities are located Lower Ground Floor and Ground Floor in the Ex-Botany area of the building..
  • Washroom and Shower Facilities View
    • Standard shower facilities are located on the Lower Ground Floor.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the rear of the building, next to the accessible entrance.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 3 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bay is signposted but has no markings.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 280cm (width) x 440cm (depth).
    • The hatched/marked zones vary between bays.
    • The width of the marked zone is 150cm.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bays vary in size.
    • The nearest designated bay is 16m from the accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has step-free level access.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (Accessible Entrance)

  • This entrance is located within the building car park.
  • 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 108cm.
  • There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
  • The door opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 108cm.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors .
  • The second set of doors open away from you.
  • The push pad for the automatic doors is at a height of 103cm.
  • The width of the opening is 145cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Entrance (Main Entrance)

  • This entrance is located within the Old Quadrangle.
  • 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 118cm.
  • There are double manual doors at this entrance, however one door is locked.
  • The doors is permanently held open.
  • The width of the opening is 86cm.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double manual doors .
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 155cm.
  • The second set of doors have a high visual contrast.

Lift

  • The lift surveyed is located on the Lower Ground floor corridor.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 7m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • Lower Ground, Ground Floor and First Floor 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 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 90cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 104cm (width) x 142cm (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 mirror to aid reversing, a hearing assistance alarm system, a visual floor indicator and an audible announcer.

Lift (Platform)

  • The lift surveyed is located between the Lower Ground and Ground Floor, halfway up the stairs where you enter via the main entrance from the Old Quadrangle.
  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • The distance from the accessible entrance is 3m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • 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 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 95cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 102cm (width) x 130cm (depth).
  • The internal lift control buttons have a medium visual contrast and tactile markings.
  • 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.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located off the Lower Ground corridor.
  • Basement, Ground Floor and First Floor can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • The steps have faded 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 not between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 14cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.

Toilet with Adaptations (First Floor - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located on the First Floor corridor.
    • The distance from the lift is 6m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is pictorial, written text, dementia friendly and numbered signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 90cm.
    • 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 156cm (width) x 217cm (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 for the toilet.
    • There is a horizontal grab rail on the non-transfer side.
    • The horizontal grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a vertical grab rail on the transfer side.
    • The vertical grab rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The dropdown rail has a medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet seat is 45cm 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 colour contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 90cm 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 medium 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 not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a wall mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 98cm from the floor.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • 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.