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Old Science Hall

Swarthmore College, 18 Whittier Place, Swarthmore, PA, 19081

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Access Guide

About

  • There is a campus parking lot available.
  • The name of the nearest parking lot is Dean Bond Rose Garden Lot.
  • View information on Swarthmore College Parking Lots (opens new tab) .
  • Student permit parking is available in the Cunningham South Lot.
    View information on parking on campus
    The nearest parking lot containing visitor parking spaces is Whittier Lot. View information on parking on campus.
  • Old Science Hall (formerly known as Trotter Hall) is a large rectangular building with 3 floors. Home to the interdisciplinary programs of Asian Studies, Black Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Interpretation Theory, Latin American Studies, and Peace and Conflict Studies, as well as the Classics, History, and Political Science departments; it is also the site of the Writing Center.
  • There is 1 elevator and 3 stairways within the building.
  • The floor names are signed as first, second and third.

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the building is step-free via slopes of varying degrees of gradient.
  • There is step-free level access to all areas of the building, including to the second and third floors via the elevator.
  • Trotter Hall has 4 entrances.
    The rear entrance - TR-3 provides step-free level access via two sets of push-pad activated double automatic doors.
  • The entrances are signed as "TR-2 - Trotter Hall", "TR-3 - Trotter Hall", and "TR-4 - Trotter Hall".
    The stepped entrance at the front of the building is unsigned, but is known as the TR-1 entrance to differentiate it from the others.
  • The rear entrance - TR-3 gives direct step-free level access to the center of the building on the first floor, from which there is then step-free level access to the elevator. This in turn provides step-free level access to the second and third floors.
  • The TR-2 entrance provides step-free level access to the first floor, with a set of push-pad activated double automatic doors (with one leaf locked), followed by a second push-pad activated single automatic door.
    The TR-4 entrance provides step-free level access to the first floor, with a set of double manual doors, followed by a second single manual door.
    The entrance at the front of the building provides stepped access to the second floor, via 11 steps, followed by one set of double manual doors.
  • The entrance at the front of the building was out of use when the building was surveyed (June 2025).

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building on all floors, and to all floors via elevator.
  • Floor surfaces along circulation routes consist of carpet, along with some shiny wooden flooring.
  • There are resting areas in circulation and lobby areas throughout the building, with a mixture of seating.
  • Wayfinding signage and floor plans are provided in circulation routes and lobby areas.
  • There is not a designated safe or quiet space.

Restrooms and Changing Facilities Available

  • Single-occupant Restrooms with Accessibility Features View
    • There are 4 single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features.
    • The single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features are located on the first floor, to the left and also to the right as you enter the building via the rear entrance - TR-3; and on the third floor on either side of the Tarble Atrium.
    • The transfer space within the single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features varies between left hand transfer and right hand transfer.
  • Multiple-stall Restrooms with Accessibility Features View
    • The multiple-stall restrooms with accessibility features are located on the second floor, to the right as you exit the elevator (male), and in the Tarble Atrium (female).
    • All multiple-stall restrooms with accessibility features have a right hand transfer space.
  • Standard Restrooms View
    • Step-free male and female restrooms are located on the second floor, to the right as you exit the elevator (male), and in the Tarble Atrium (female).
    • Step-free gender inclusive restrooms are located on the ground floor.
    • The only stall within the standard male restrooms is a stall with accessibility features.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the restroom with accessibility features on the first floor, to the right as you enter the building via the rear entrance - TR-3.

Entrance (Rear Entrance - TR-3)

  • This entrance is located to the rear of the building, overlooking the Rose Garden.
  • There is step-free level access at the entrance.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is not a canopy or recess that provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 3ft 2in (96cm).
  • There are double automatic doors at this entrance; however, one door is locked.
  • The doors open towards you.
  • There is a push plate/sensor at a height of 3ft 6in (106cm).
  • The width of the opening is 2ft 8in (82cm).
  • There is a squared threshold (more than 1/2in) at the opening.
  • The doors have a medium visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors; however, one door is locked.
  • The second set of doors open towards you.
  • There is a push plate/sensor at a height of 2ft 11in (90cm).
  • The width of the opening is 2ft 8in (81cm).
  • The doors have a low visual contrast.

Elevator

  • The elevator is located straight ahead and to the left as you enter the building via the rear entrance - TR-3.
  • The elevator surveyed is approximately 12yd 1in (11m) from the rear entrance - TR-3 (second set of doors).
  • The most accessible route to the elevator has step-free level access.
  • The floors which are accessible by this elevator are the first, second and third floors.
  • The elevator has a turning space of 30in x 48in (760mm x 1220mm) in front of it.
  • The external elevator control buttons have tactile markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the external elevator controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user (between 15in - 48in (380mm - 1220mm)).
  • The weight limit for the elevator is 2550 lb.
  • The elevator door has a medium visual contrast.
  • The elevator door opening width is 3ft 5in (104cm).
  • The internal dimensions of the elevator are 6ft 8in width x 4ft 2in depth (202cm x 128cm).
  • The internal elevator control buttons have tactile markings, Braille markings and a high visual contrast.
  • All of the internal elevator controls are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user (between 15in - 48in (380mm - 1220mm)).
  • Internally the elevator has: a visual floor indicator and railings.
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.

Stairway (Tarble Atrium)

  • The stairway surveyed is located within the Tarble Atrium, straight ahead as you enter the building via the rear entrance - TR-3.
  • The floors which are accessible by stairway are the first, second and third floors.
  • There are 20+ steps between floors.
  • There are handrails on both sides.
  • The handrails are easy to grip.
  • The height of the handrails is 2ft 11in (89cm).
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrails extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
  • The steps are unmarked.
  • The height of the highest step is 7in (18cm).
  • The minimum tread depth is 11in (28cm).
  • Lighting levels vary due to the presence of large glass panels/windows.

Restroom with Accessibility Features (First Floor - Gender Inclusive - Right Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The restroom surveyed is a single-occupant restroom.
    • The restroom surveyed is located straight ahead and to the right as you enter the building via the rear entrance - TR-3.
    • The restroom surveyed is approximately 9yd 2ft (9m) from the rear entrance - TR-3.
    • The most accessible route to the restroom has step-free level access.
    • There is step-free level access into the restroom.
    • There is Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the restroom door.
    • The door into the restroom opens inwards and has a high visual contrast.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The door has a lever handle.
    • The width of the restroom door opening is 2ft 9in (83cm).
    • The door has a lever twist lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The overall dimensions are 10ft 3in x 7ft 6in (312cm x 229cm).
    • The turning space dimensions are 10ft 3in x 5ft 5in (312cm x 165cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the right of the toilet as you look at it.
    • The lateral transfer space is 3ft 9in (115cm) (from the side of the toilet bowl to the wall).
    • There is a push button flush on the non-transfer side.
    • There is a horizontal grab bar on the rear wall and on the side wall.
    • The horizontal grab bars have a high visual contrast with the surrounding walls.
    • The toilet seat is 1ft 7in (48cm) from the floor.
    • The toilet seat has a low visual contrast.
    • There is a wall-mounted toilet paper dispenser that can be easily reached when seated on the toilet.
    • The toilet paper dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The toilet paper dispenser is 1ft 8in (51cm) from the floor.
    • The sink is 2ft 10in (87cm) from the floor.
    • The area underneath the sink is unobstructed .
    • The sink faucet type is lever-style mixer.
    • There is a wall-mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 3ft 6in (107cm) from the floor.
    • There is a wall-mounted paper towel dispenser.
    • The paper towel dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The paper towel dispenser is 3ft 3in (98cm) from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a mirror above the sink/counter top; however, its bottom edge is not within 40in (1000mm) maximum from the finish floor.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The stall has a wastebasket.
    • There are two coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 3ft 10in and 5ft 6in (118cm and 168cm) from the floor.
    • The baby changing station when in use is at a height of 2ft 8in (82cm) from the floor.
    • The baby changing station does not obstruct the turning space.
    • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.