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Eldon Building - East Wing

Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth, Hants, PO1 2DJ

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step free via slight slopes and uneven surfaces.
  • The approach from Eldon Building car park and St James's Road is step-free via slight slopes and uneven surfaces.
    The approach from Winston Churchill Avenue is step-free via slight slopes and uneven surfaces.
    The approach to the East Wing and North Wing courtyard entrances are step-free and level.
  • There are 3 external entrances and 3 internal entrances into the Eldon Building - East Wing.
    There is 1 main entrance and 2 courtyard entrances which access the East Wing directly or the North Wing for step-free access into the basement level of the East Wing.
    There are internal entrances into the East Wing on the ground floor of the South Wing and North Wing and on the first floor of the North Wing.
    The main entrance, East Wing courtyard entrances and North and South Wing internal entrances provide access to the ground floor of the East Wing.
    The North Wing courtyard entrance provides access to the ground floor of the North Wing for a step-free route to the basement floor of the East Wing.
    The internal entrance in the office space on the North Wing provides step-free access to the first floor of the East Wing.
  • There is no distinguishing signage at each of the internal or external entrances.
  • The East Wing/North Wing main entrance provides step-free access via steep ramp to the ground floor of the East Wing.
  • The North Wing courtyard entrance has step-free access via slight ramp and gives access to the basement floor of the East Wing via internal lifts.
    The East Wing courtyard entrance provides easy sloped and stepped access to the East Wing main staircase in between the basement and ground floor.
    The North Wing ground floor internal entrance provides step-free level access to the ground floor of the East Wing.
    The South Wing ground floor internal entrance provides stepped access to the ground floor of the East Wing which can be overcome with the South Wing Lift.
    The North Wing first floor internal entrance provides step-free level access to the first floor of the East Wing via the lift in the North Wing then by using the first floor landing at the North Wing and East Wing shared staircase.
    This entrance is located to the rear of faculty office space FMC1.12 and has a manual door.

Getting Around

  • There is stepped access throughout the building on all floors as there is no lift in the East Wing. Access to the basement floor of the East Wing is step-free via the North Wing main lift and access to the first floor of the East Wing can be step-free via the 1.12 FMC Academic Staff Office on the first floor of the North Wing.
  • On the ground floor of the North Wing, there are 10 steps which have some clear markings but a low colour contrast for access to the basement floor of the East Wing. The steps have handrails on both sides. There is a platform lift to overcome the steps located to the left of the stairs. Students must take the platform lift in order to access the North Wing main lift. They must then take the North Wing main lift to the basement floor in order to access rooms B.01 - B.12 on the Basement floor of the East Wing.
  • On the basement floor of the East Wing, there are an additional 5 clearly marked steps to access the music rooms which can also be overcome with a platform lift. There is also a steep ramp on the basement floor with no handrails to access 'Studio 3 - Atmos Room'.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth with some having a shiny finish. Flooring in some areas of the basement floor are carpeted.
  • There are some resting areas on the ground floor in the East Wing/North Wing main entrance foyer and in the corridor on the basement floor with a mixture of seating available.
  • There is limited wayfinding signage available and it is difficult to distinguish the beginning and end of each wing of the Eldon Building. There is a map of the building available online which may be useful to look at.
  • There are manual doors in some circulation routes around the East Wing as well as doors permanently held open. There are are also manual doors to enter and exit the stairwells.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There are 2 toilets with adaptations.
    • Toilets with adaptations are located along the ground floor East Wing main corridor and on the first floor just off the stairwell between the East and North Wings.
    • The transfer space varies between left and right in the toilets with adaptations.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the ground floor along the East Wing main corridor and to the left.
    • The male and female step-free toilet facilities are located on the basement floor of the East Wing, to the left as you enter the basement floor after exiting the North Wing main lift.

Parking (Eldon Building)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the rear of the Eldon building, off Bedford Street.
    • 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 bays are signposted and have markings which are faded.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 280cm (width) x 408cm (depth).
    • The hatched/marked zones vary between bays.
    • The width of the marked zone is 133cm.
    • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bays vary in size.
    • The nearest designated bay is 74m from the East Wing/North Wing main entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has slight ramps or slopes, uneven surfaces and bollards.
    • The minimum width of the bollards on the approach from the Blue Badge Bays is 128cm.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for Blue Badge holders, staff permit holders and student permit holders only.
    • Parking is not free for all users.
    • Parking is not free for Blue Badge holders.
    • Clearly presented parking signs are available.
    • View information on parking policies/charges (opens new tab).
    • At the time of survey (May 2025) the car park was closed for construction works.
  • Electric Vehicle Charging Points View
    • There are 4 electric vehicle charging points.
    • The dimensions of the surveyed electric vehicle charging bay are 225cm (width) x 440cm (depth).
    • The controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The nozzle holster is at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
    • The charging points require an app.
    • There are no electric vehicle charging points designated for Blue Badge holders.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • On-street Parking View
    • On-street standard parking is available .
    • The on-street designated Blue Badge parking bays are located on Middle Street.

Parking (St James's Road)

  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.
  • 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 on St James's Road.
    • The Blue Badge bays are signposted and have markings which are faded.
    • The nearest Blue Badge Bay is approximately 35m from the East Wing/North Wing main entrance.

Entrance (East Wing/North Wing Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the East side of the Eldon Building, off St James's Road.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is 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 steep gradient.
  • The ramp is between 75cm and 150cm wide with handrails on both sides.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 6 steps with 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 steps are clearly marked.
  • The height of the steps is between 15cm and 18cm.
  • The height of the highest step is 18cm.
  • The depth of the steps is between 30cm and 45cm.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 100cm.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • The width of the opening is 197cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 103cm.
  • At the time of survey (May 2025), the push pad to exit was not working. The height of the key card reader to exit is 101cm.
  • There is a second single automatic door.
  • The door has a locked extension leaf.
  • The second door opens towards you.
  • The push pad for the automatic doors is at a height of 90cm.
  • The width of the opening is 87cm.
  • The second door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a push pad or push button to exit at a height of 90cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Lift (North Wing - Platform Lift)

  • The lift surveyed is located on the ground floor of the North Wing, opposite the Art Shop.
  • This lift is a platform lift.
  • The distance from the North Wing courtyard entrance is 13m.
  • The most accessible route to the lift has step-free level access.
  • The lift door has a low visual contrast.
  • The lift has a level manoeuvring space in front of it for a wheelchair user (150cm x 150cm).
  • The weight limit for the lift is 300kg.
  • 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 98cm.
  • The internal dimensions of the lift are 104cm (width) x 141cm (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 separate door to exit.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • This platform lift is used to bypass a stepped level change on the ground floor of the North Wing, leading to the Basement floor of the East Wing.
    This route is the only step-free route to access the Basement floor of the East Wing.
    Students must take the platform lift before accessing the North Wing main lift and taking the lift down to the Basement floor.
    From here they can access the rooms on the Basement floor of the East Wing.

Stairs (East Wing Main Staircase)

  • The stairs surveyed are located along the East Wing main corridor and to the right.
  • There are double manual doors to access the stairwell.
  • The Basement, Ground and First floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 19 steps between floors.
  • The steps are unmarked 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 20cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Stairs (East Wing/North Wing Main Staircase)

  • The stairs surveyed are located immediately to the right as you enter via the East Wing/ North Wing main entrance.
  • There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
  • The ground, first, second and third 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 not 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 17cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
  • There is no access to the East Wing rooms above the first floor.
    The second and third floors are for access to North Wing rooms only.

Stairs (East Wing - Ground Floor to Basement Floor)

  • The stairs surveyed are located immediately ahead as you enter via the East Wing/North Wing main entrance.
  • There are double manual doors to access the stairwell.
  • The ground and basement floors can be accessed by these stairs.
  • There are 15 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 20cm.
  • The depth of the steps is not between 30cm and 45cm.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.
  • There is no step-free access from the East Wing ground floor to the East Wing basement floor.
    Students must take the North Wing main lift down to the basement floor to access this area.

Toilet with Adaptations (Ground Floor - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located along the ground floor main corridor of the East Wing, to the left.
    • The distance from the East Wing/North Wing entrance is 20m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has step-free level access, doors permanently held open and narrow walkways.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • There is Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens by sliding and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 90cm.
    • The door has a locking handle.
    • Internally the door has a medium visual contrast.
    • There is not a grab rail on the internal door .
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The dimensions of the cubicle are 200cm (width) x 173cm (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 96cm (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 no dropdown rail for the toilet.
    • The toilet seat is 52cm 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 medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 105cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps cannot be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 77cm 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 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 medium visual contrast.
    • The towel dispenser is 105cm 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 nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 104cm from the floor.
    • The walls and floor have a high visual contrast.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.