Access Guide
About
- There is a campus parking lot available.
- The name of the nearest parking lot is Field House Lot.
- View information on Swarthmore College Parking Lots (opens new tab) .
- Student permit parking is available in the Cunningham South Lot.
View information about parking on campus
View information about visitor parking. - This residence hall is made up of 1 building.
- There are step-free standard rooms.
- Pittenger Hall is made up of 1 residential hall. Houses the educational studies, linguistics, and religion departments, as well as the Business Office and Human Resources.
Getting Inside
- The approach to the building is step-free via slopes with a variety of grades.
- There is step-free access to the first floor of the building via the rear entrance, which has ramped or stepped access.
Access to the second and third floors is via stairway only - there is no elevator within the building. - Pittenger Hall has 3 entrances.
1 entrance provides step-free access via a ramp, which bypasses the steps (rear entrance). - Two of the entrances are signed as "PI-2 - Pittenger Hall" and "PI-6".
The rear entrance is unsigned. - The rear entrance gives direct access to the first floor of the building, on which there is step-free level access.
The second and third floors can then be reached from here via stairway - there is no elevator. - The PI-2 entrance provides stepped access to the first floor, via 9 steps and 2 sets of single, manual doors (the second of which is permanently held open).
The PI-6 entrance provides stepped access to the first floor, via 8 steps and 2 sets of single, manual doors (the second of which is permanently held open).
Getting Around
- There is step-free level access throughout the first floor of the building. Access to the second and third floors, as well as the kitchen/laundry in the basement, is via stairway/steps only.
- Floor surfaces along all circulation routes consist of low pile carpet.
- There are resting areas in some circulation/lobby areas of the building, with a mixture of seating.
- There is some limited wayfinding signage provided along circulation routes in the building. Each room/facility is also clearly numbered and signed with written text and Braille on or near its door.
- There is not a designated safe or quiet space.
Restrooms and Changing Facilities Available
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Standard Restrooms
View
- Step-free gender inclusive restrooms are located on the first floor, straight ahead as you enter the building through the second set of doors at the rear entrance.
- There are further gender-inclusive restrooms on the second and third floors, to the left as you ascend stair 2 from the floor below.
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Shower Facilities
View
- Standard shower facilities are located within the standard gender-inclusive restrooms on each floor.
Entrance (Rear Entrance)
- This entrance is located to the rear of the building, opposite the PPR Apartments.
- There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
- The ramp has a gradient of 1:10.
- There is a step-free level resting area.
- The width of the ramp is 4ft 7in (140cm).
- The ramp has handrails on both sides.
- The ramp bypasses the steps.
- There are 9 steps.
- There are handrails on both sides.
- The handrails are easy to grip.
- The height of the handrails is 3ft (92cm).
- 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 unmarked.
- The height of the highest step is 6in (14cm).
- The minimum tread depth is 1ft 3in (37cm).
- The entrance area is not 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 7in (108cm).
- There is a single automatic door at this entrance.
- The door opens towards you.
- There is a push plate/sensor at a height of 3ft (92cm).
- The door has a pull handle.
- The width of the opening is 2ft 6in (77cm).
- The door has a high visual contrast.
- There is a second single manual door.
- The second door opens towards you.
- The door is easy to open.
- The door has a lever handle.
- The width of the opening is 2ft 8in (82cm).
- The door has a high visual contrast.
- There is an additional key fob/card reader on the second set of doors, at a height of 113cm.
- There is step-free level access as you enter the entrance.
Stairway (Stair 2)
- The stairway surveyed is located immediately ahead as you enter the building via the second set of doors at the rear entrance.
- The floors which are accessible by stairway are the first, second, and third floors.
- There are 18 steps between floors.
- There is a handrail on the left going up.
- The handrail is not easy to grip.
- The height of the handrail is 2ft 5in (74cm).
- The handrail does not cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- The handrail does not extend horizontally beyond the first and last step.
- The steps are unmarked.
- The height of the highest step is 7in (19cm).
- The minimum tread depth is 10in (26cm).
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
- Lighting levels are adjustable in some areas.
Kitchen
- The kitchen is located on the basement floor, down the stairs immediately on your left as you enter the building via the second set of doors at the rear entrance.
- The most accessible route to the kitchen has step-free level access and narrow corridors/walkways.
- There is stepped access to enter.
- There are 14 steps.
- There is a handrail on the right going down.
- The handrail is not easy to grip.
- The height of the handrail is 2ft 3in (69cm).
- The handrail does not cover 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 highest step is 8in (20cm).
- The minimum tread depth is 11in (27cm).
- Pittinger residents requiring a kitchen with step-free level access may use the kitchen in adjoining Palmer Hall.
- There is a single manual door to enter the kitchen.
- The door has a medium visual contrast.
- The door is permanently held open.
- The door requires effort to open.
- The door has a doorknob.
- The width of the opening is 2ft 3in (69cm).
- There is step-free level access throughout.
- There is room for a wheelchair user to maneuver.
- Some flooring is shiny.
- The work surface is at a height of 3ft (92cm).
- A lowered work surface is not available.
- Overhead and under counter cupboards are available.
- The cooktop is at a height of 3ft (92cm).
- A lowered cooktop is not available.
- The cooktop controls are located at the back.
- The stove controls and door opening handle are within 15in - 48in (380mm - 1220mm) from the floor.
- The stove controls are located at the back.
- The sink is at a height of 3ft (92cm).
- A lowered sink is not available.
- The sink faucet type is lever-style mixer.
- Facilities within the kitchen include a refrigerator, a freezer, a washer and a dryer.
- The following machines are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user (between 15in - 48in (380mm - 1220mm) from the floor): the refrigerator, the freezer, the washer and the dryer.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.
- Lighting levels are adjustable.
Standard Restrooms (First Floor)
- The gender inclusive restrooms were surveyed.
- The restroom is located straight ahead as you enter the building via the rear entrance (second set of doors).
- The distance from the rear entrance (second set of doors) is 6yd 1ft (6m).
- The most accessible route has step-free level access.
- There is step-free level access to enter the restroom.
- There is Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the restrooms.
- The door into the restroom opens outwards and has a low visual contrast.
- The door requires effort to open.
- The door has a pull handle.
- The width of the restroom door opening is 2ft 8in (82cm).
- There is a sink, a wall mounted soap dispenser and a towel dispenser available.
- The sink faucet type is lever-style mixer.
- Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.