This is part of my intention to inspect all new buildings on campus and my first inspection yet.
I have to say I am very impressed with the level of attention paid to access and disability requirements in the design and construction of the building.
I was met by Greg Power and Kevin Sullivan of the buildings office who were to be my tour guides. Both are clearly very experienced and learned on the subject of disabled access and also very pleasant and friendly chaps.
Straight away I noticed that the reception desk featured a dropped section, suitable for people in wheelchairs etc, this was a good first impression.
On the ground floor I inspected the lifts and washrooms which appeared to be satisfactory. There no steps on the way in from any entrance which greatly helps accessibility.
I was shown the main large lecture theatre on the ground floor, the Dr Higgins theatre which I had already heard horror stories about. I can see why in a sense, the lecture rows are stacked very steeply though I have to say I found the theatre to be very comfortable and possess an amazing panorama of the teaching area, the rows are stacked high with very good reason, engineering students will not be looking at the back of each other’s heads they way most science and arts students have to in many theatres.
This theatre was accessible from the front and the back with seat less rows at both suitable for wheelchair users. There was ample electricity within reach of these areas for recharging etc. It was also pointed out to me that all the doors in the building were black with light grey or white panelling which is essential for either colour blind people or those who are otherwise visually impaired. I was also informed that the entire building was fitted with induction loops for hearing aids.
All of the corridors are comfortable wide enough to allow two wheelchairs to pass each other and there are breakout areas on every floor that are suitably designed. The canteen area shows no potential access problems. Greg and Kevin mentioned to me that they had looked into having a dropped service counter but were advised against it due to the increased change of hot food or drinks being spilled which I completely understand. I noticed also that all of the lights are motion activated, eliminating the need for switches and the electrical switches that I did see, that controlled blinds, the lifts and various other things, were low down and comfortable reachable from a standing or sitting position
Throughout the building there are lots of examples of fitted furnishing with plenty of flat floor area surrounding I can envisage very few access problems when it comes to any of the fitting furniture. There are unfitted tables and chairs that have already found their way to obstructing few offices and rooms but this is inevitable. I imagine of anyone who starts working there or studying there will very quickly be catered for. From an access point of view I have to say once again that I am very impressed with the level of attention that has clearly been paid to this building.
From a student’s point of view the building is a working display model of modern engineering. Throughout the building there are cut away sections so that the structure of the building can be observed, from piping and wiring in some areas to viable concrete and rebar sections. In some areas the main supports can be viewed and the many parts of the building are digitally monitored and readouts of the various stresses and strains put on the supporting structures can be read and monitored. This way engineering students can solve problems and observe the structure of the very building they are studying. It’s fantastic. I’m only gutted I’m studying science this year.
One thing I did notice was that the computer suites currently had no larger monitors, needed for people who are visually impaired. I was told this was the responsibility of ISS department and that any needs would be catered for within a matter of hours. I will take it upon myself to notify ISS that it may be a good idea to have a few extra large monitors and workstations set up for high contrast as well as a few roller ball mouses and larger keyboards should they be required. This is a minor issue that can be solved very quickly. One thing that did concern me a little was that the emergency alarms in the toilets are not linked to any external sources and only set off a local alarm on the one floor. Also the elevators, while very accessible and well designed, had emergency phones in them that linked directly to a call center in the UK. I do not know which call center and I do not know what hours they are reachable by. This is something to look into, I assume this building is open until around 10pm at night like most of the rest of campus, I only hope the answer to the call for help is open these hours also or someone is bound to spend a very unpleasant night in an elevator.
I will return and have a look around the place on my own in the next few week so that I can avoid what I call “tour guide blindness” and have a fresh look.
I found Greg and Kevin very amicable and approachable people, I look forward to meeting with them in the future and working with them to quickly solve any problems that might occur throughout the year regarding access.
That’s all for now, I have a further meeting this afternoon with the commercial services managers concerning some gigs I want to organise in the College bar for Equality week . Watch this space ;)
Peace and love bros
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