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The Forum and The Street

Harrow Campus, University of Westminster, Watford Road, Northwick Park, HA1 3TP

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Access Guide

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Overview

Getting Inside

  • The approach to The Forum from the Blue Badge parking bays or the halls of residence is via slopes with a slight gradient.
  • The Forum has a single external entrance with internal step-free access to The Street.
  • There is an internal entrance from Building A to the upper level of The Street. There is stepped access here, overcome by a long ramp with a slight gradient. Please refer to the separate access guide for A and C Blocks - Maria Hewlett Building in the Overview section of this guide for more detailed information about this entrance.
  • There are a further two internal entrances to the lower level of The Street from Building J adjacent. Please refer to the separate access guide for J Block in the Overview section of this guide for more detailed information about these entrances.
  • There are numerous other internal connections to Buildings L, M, and X, although these buildings can only be accessed from within The Forum or along The Street.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout The Forum.
  • There is step-free access between The Forum and The Street, and between the lower and upper levels of The Street.
  • There is a steep slope with a landing to overcome the steps between the lower and upper levels of The Street. Access to this ramp is width restricted to 108cm.
  • There is a steep slope off the upper level of The Street for access to the accessible, female and male standard toilets. This slope does not offer weather protection.
  • There is a steep slope with a landing off the upper level of The Street for access to rooms ELG.01 and ELG.03. This slope does not offer weather protection.
  • There are steps along the lower level of The Street for access to the female and male standard toilets.
  • There are steps between the lower and upper levels of The Street.
  • There are steps off the upper level of The Street for access to rooms ELG.01 and ELG.03. These steps do not offer weather protection.
  • There are steps off the upper level of The Street for access to the Pod Garden.
  • There is step-free access to the Pod Garden from Building J adjacent.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
  • There is ample mixed seating within The Forum, and some bench seating along The Street.
  • There is some wall-mounted wayfinding signage in The Forum.
  • There are manual doors from the upper level of The Street for access to the Pod Garden.

Toilet and Changing Facilities

  • Toilet Facilities View
    • There is 1 toilet with adaptations.
    • The toilet with adaptations is located off The Street next to the entrance to Building X.
    • The toilet with adaptations has a left hand transfer space.
    • The male and female standard toilet facilities are located off The Street next to the entrance to Building X.

Rooms and Services in the Building

Parking (Campus Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located to the side of Buildings C and L.
    • The car park is open air/surface.
    • The car park surface consists of tarmac.
    • There are 5 designated Blue Badge parking bays available.
    • The Blue Badge bays are clearly marked.
    • The surveyed Blue Badge parking bay dimensions are 300cm (width) x 475cm (depth).
    • There are no hatched/marked zones.
    • The nearest designated bay is 45m from the entrance to The Forum.
    • The nearest designated bay is approximately 100m from the entrance to Building S - The Old Sports Hall.
    • The most accessible route from the Blue Badge parking has a slight ramp or slope and uneven surfaces.
    • There is a dropped kerb with tactile paving from the designated Blue Badge parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park is for visitors, staff permit holders and student permit holders only.
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • Staff or students without a permit should enter their vehicle registration details at reception.
  • Drop-off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop-off point available.

Entrance (The Forum)

  • This entrance is located to the right-hand side of the front of the building, opposite Building S Sports Hall.
  • 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 slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a slight gradient.
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 151cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The second set of doors open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 171cm.
  • There is a small lip on the threshold of the opening.
  • The second set of doors have a low visual contrast.
  • The minimum width between the security barriers is 54cm.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.

Reception (The Forum)

  • The reception is located on the left after the main entrance.
  • The distance from the main entrance is 5m.
  • There is step-free level access to reception.
  • The height of the reception desk is 114cm.
  • There is a lowered section at the desk.
  • The height of the lowered section is 73cm.
  • The reception has patterned/distracting backgrounds.
  • There is a clearly signed fixed hearing assistance system.
  • The hearing assistance system was tested, however it was not working at the time of the survey.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise in this area.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
  • 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: benches.
  • Furniture available in this area includes: coffee tables.
  • There are security barriers with a wider opening which are operated by staff.

Stairs

  • The stairs surveyed are located on the left after the security barriers at reception.
  • The ground floor and the first floor 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, with unshaded light sources.
  • These stairs can be overcome via lift in Building M adjacent.

Entrance (The Street)

  • This entrance is located to the rear of The Forum.
  • The entrance area is not clearly signed.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a slight gradient.
  • The ramp is over 150cm wide with a handrail on the right going up.
  • The ramp bypasses the steps.
  • There are 2 steps with a handrail on the right 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 steps are clearly marked.
  • 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 automatic doors at this entrance.
  • The doors open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 160cm.
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter.
  • This entrance provides access to the lower level of The Street.

Toilet with Adaptations (The Street - Shared - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet surveyed is located along The Street near to the entrance to Building X, next to the female standard toilets.
    • The distance from the Forum entrance to The Street is 100m.
    • The most accessible route to the toilet has steep ramps or slopes and automatic doors.
    • There is step-free level access into the facility.
    • The central portion of the most accessible route does not provide weather protection.
    • There is pictorial and written text signage on or near the door.
    • The door opens outwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The width of the door opening is 86cm.
    • 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 145cm (width) x 198cm (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 78cm (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 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 medium visual contrast.
    • The toilet roll holder is 106cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin and taps can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is 75cm from the floor.
    • The wash basin has a lever mixer tap.
    • There are no vertical grab rails at the wash basin.
    • There is a wall mounted soap dispenser which can be reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 88cm 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 126cm from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a pull cord emergency alarm within 10cm from the floor.
    • There is no mirror.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The cubicle has a waste bin and 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 are alternative toilets with adaptations in adjacent Buildings J, and M on the ground floor, and Building L on the first floor.