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A Block - Maria Hewlett Building

Harrow Campus, Watford Road, Northwick Park, Middlesex, HA1 3TP

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Access Guide

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Introduction

  • Comments View
    • Direct access to the Maria Hewlett Building from outside the campus is via the West Entrance.
    • Internal access to the building is via The Street.

Location

  • The venue is situated outside the centre of the town.
  • This venue is situated in Harrow.
  • The nearest mainline station is Kenton.
  • The nearest underground station is Northwick Park.

Parking

  • The venue does have its own car park.
  • Parking is not free for all users.
  • Parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
  • The car park type is open air/surface.
  • Parking spaces for Blue Badge holders cannot booked in advance.
  • There is/are 3 Blue Badge parking bay(s) within the car park.
  • The dimensions of the Blue Badge parking bay(s) are 260cm x 380cm (8ft 6in x 12ft 6in).
  • Venue Car Park View
    • Designated parking bays are clearly marked.
    • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 20m (21yd 2ft) from the main entrance.
    • The furthest Blue Badge bay is 25m (27yd 1ft) from the main entrance.
    • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
    • Assistance may be required because there is / are slopes/ramps.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • There is a dropped kerb between the car park and the venue.
    • The dropped kerb does not have tactile paving.
    • There is not a road to cross between the car park and the entrance.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • There is not a designated drop off point.

Outside Access (West Entrance)

  • This information is for the entrance located on the far side of The Street, leading off Watford Road.
  • There is not level access into the venue.
  • The bell is in a suitable position to allow wheelchair users to gain access.
  • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (towards you).
  • The door(s) is / are double.
  • The width of the door opening is 128cm (4ft 2in).
  • Comments View
    • The push pad to operate the automatic doors when entering is placed at 98cm high.
    • The push pad to operate the automatic doors when exiting is placed at 90cm high.
    • There are 2 sets of identical automatic doors with a revolving door in the middle.
    • The doors to the left are shown in photographs 3 and 4.
    • The doors to the right are shown in photographs 5 and 6.
    • This entrance opens into the Maria Hewlett Building.

Level Change (West Entrance)

  • There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
  • The ramp/slope is located in front of the entrance, leading up from Watford Road.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • The ramp does have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.

Outside Access (Entrance from The Street)

  • This information is for the entrance located at the end of The Street from the main entrance.
  • There is not level access into the venue.
  • The main door(s) open(s) automatically (away from you).
  • The door(s) is / are double.
  • The width of the door opening is 164cm (5ft 5in).
  • Comments View
    • There is also a single automatic door, 82cm wide which opens inwards, to the left of the double doors as you face them (shown in photograph 3).

Level Change (Entrance from The Street)

  • There is a ramp/slope to access this area/service.
  • The ramp/slope does bypass the step(s).
  • The ramp/slope is located off The Street, to the right as you face the entrance.
  • The ramp/slope is permanent.
  • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
  • The ramp does have handrails.
  • The handrails are on both sides.
  • The width of the ramp/slope is 110cm (3ft 7in).
  • There is a/are step(s) to access this area/service.
  • The step(s) is/are located off The Street, in front of the entrance.
  • There is/are 14 step(s) to the area/service.
  • There is not tactile paving at the top and bottom of the steps.
  • The step(s) is/are clearly marked.
  • The step(s) is/are medium height (11cm - 17cm).
  • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
  • The handrail(s) is/are on both sides.

Inside Access

  • There is level access to the service(s).
  • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • This venue does not play background music.
  • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Motorised scooters are welcomed in public parts of the venue.
  • Comments View
    • There are double automatic doors, 136 cm wide opening outwards, to the side of the reception foyer next to the Students' Union Shop, with a similar set of doors at the far end of the corridor, leading to Lift B (photographs 2 and 3). The corridor between the two sets of doors contain double manual doors with 1 leaf held open, 71cm wide (photograph 4).
    • There is level access to the front of the Kodak Lecture Theatre, on the ground floor of the south side of the building.

Other Floors

  • Steps View
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are LG-G-1-2-3-4-5-6-7.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • There are manual, heavy, double doors to access the stairwell on all floors.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • The steps are medium (11cm - 17cm).
    • The steps do have handrails.
    • The steps have a handrail on both sides.
    • There is a landing.

Lift (Lift A)

  • There is a lift for public use.
  • The lift is located to the left as you enter from the west entrance.
  • The lift is a standard lift.
  • The floors which are accessible by this lift are G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
  • Wall mounted information boards are provided at lift landings.
  • There are manual, double doors which may be difficult to open to access the lift lobby from the first floor upwards.
  • The lift is approximately 18m (19yd 2ft) from the west entrance.
  • Staff do not need to be notified for use of the lift.
  • The clear door width is 90cm (2ft 11in).
  • The dimensions of the lift are 140cm x 220cm (4ft 7in x 7ft 3in).
  • There are not separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
  • There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
  • The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
  • The lift does have an audible announcer.
  • The lift has a hearing enhancement system.
  • The lift does not have Braille markings.
  • The lift does have tactile markings.
  • The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
  • The lighting level in the lift is moderate to good.
  • Comments View
    • There are also lifts on the south side of the building, by the Kodak Lecture Theatre (Lift B).
    • These access floors LG, G, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, and include a larger lift with a door width of 130cm (shown in photograph 2).

Accessible Toilet

  • There are accessible toilet facilities within this venue.
  • Location and Access View
    • The toilet is for the sole use of disabled people.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the lift.
    • This accessible toilet is located on the 1st floor.
    • There is level access to this accessible toilet.
    • This is by lift.
  • Features and Dimensions View
    • This is a unisex toilet.
    • A key is required for the accessible toilet.
    • The key is a radar key.
    • The key can be obtained from the reception counter.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet door is 88cm (2ft 11in).
    • The door is light.
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 156cm x 200cm (5ft 1in x 6ft 7in).
    • There is a clear 150cm x 150cm manoeuvring space in the accessible toilet.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 90cm (2ft 11in).
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • There is a flush on the transfer side.
    • The tap type is lever.
    • There is a mixer tap.
    • There is an emergency pull cord alarm in the cubicle.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the cubicle.
    • There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
  • Position of Fixtures View
    • Wall-mounted grab rails are available.
    • As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rails are on both sides.
    • There is not a shelf within the accessible toilet.
    • There is a mirror.
    • Mirrors are placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a towel dispenser.
    • The towel dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The towel dispenser is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a toilet roll holder.
    • The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
  • Colour Contrast and Lighting View
    • There is a high colour contrast between the internal door and wall.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is poor.
    • There is a good colour contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall.
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • The lighting levels are bright.
  • Comments View
    • There are also accessible toilets on the lower ground, fourth and sixth floors by the main lifts. These also have the transfer space on the left.
    • The male standard toilets on the fourth floor and the female standard toilets on the fifth floor, by the south lifts, both contain an adapted cubicle with the transfer space on the right (shown in photograph 2).

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Availability and Location of Standard Toilets View
    • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Access to Standard Female Toilet(s) View
    • The female toilet facilities that were surveyed are located on the first floor.
    • The female toilet(s) is/are approximately 4m (4yd 1ft) from the lift.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the female toilet(s).
    • This is by lift.
    • Lighting levels are bright.
  • Access to Standard Male Toilet(s) View
    • The male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located off the foyer area.
    • The male toilet(s) is/are approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the west entrance.
    • Inside the venue, there is level access to the male toilet(s).
    • Lighting levels are bright.
  • Comments View
    • There are standard toilets available on floor 1-7.

Additional Info

  • Staff do receive disability awareness / equality training.
  • Documents can be requested in Braille.
  • Documents can be requested in large print.
  • A member of staff trained in BSL skills is not generally on duty.
  • Staff are Text Relay aware.