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Whittier Hall

Swarthmore College, 7 Whittier Place, Swarthmore, PA, 19081

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Access Guide

About

  • The venue shares parking facilities.
  • The name of the nearest parking lot is Whittier Lot.
  • View information on Swarthmore College Parking Lots (opens new tab) .
  • There is a slope leading directly from the Whittier Lot to the rear entrance.
  • There are slopes leading to the main entrance of the building from the Whittier Lot. .
  • Whittier Hall is a medium sized L shaped building with 3 floors. The Swarthmore MakerSpace is located in Whittier Hall, rooms 109 - 113.
  • There is 1 elevator and 2 stairways.
  • The floors are signed as 0, 1 and 2. .

Getting Inside

  • There is a mostly level approach to the main entrance to the building. .
  • There are 2 entrances to the building.
  • The main entrance is located at the front of the building and has 2 sets of double doors of which 1 door opens automatically. There is a slope with a gradient of less then 5% on the route to the entrance.
  • The main entrance is signed as WT-1.
  • The rear entrance is signed as 'Entrance'.
  • The rear entrance is located off the parking lot and has a slope with a gradient of 6.5% to enter the building.
  • The entrance leads into floor 0 and has an automatic single door that opens towards you. There is a locked manual door to the left of the automatic door due to the presence of an internal metal bar. The entrance doors cannot be opened together to create a wider entrance.
  • After entering the building there is a ramp with a gradient of 7.6%.
  • There is then an automatic single manual door followed by a slight slope. .

Getting Around

  • It is possible to bypass all steps one inside the building.
  • There is a ramp with a gradient of 6% to access the restroom with accessibility features on floor 0 which contains a baby change.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
  • There are resting areas in some circulation and lobby areas with a mixture of seating available.
  • There is wayfinding signage provided in the 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 7 single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features.
    • The single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features are located on floors 0, 1 and 2.
    • The transfer space within the single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features varies between left hand transfer and right hand transfer.
  • Standard Restrooms View
    • Step-free gender inclusive restrooms are located on each floor at the west end of building, one on 1st and 2nd floors at the east end of building.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located in one of the restrooms with accessibility features on floor 0. This restroom has a ramp with a gradient of 6% to access it.

Rooms and Services Available

Entrance

  • This entrance is located at the front of the building leading into level 1.
  • The approach to the entrance has uneven surfaces.
  • There is step-free access via a slope at the entrance.
  • The slope has a gradient easier than 1:20.
  • The entrance area is clearly signed.
  • There is a canopy or recess that provides weather protection at the entrance.
  • There is a key fob/card reader at a height of 3ft 1in (95cm).
  • 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 1in (95cm).
  • The door has a lever handle.
  • The width of the opening is 2ft 9in (85cm).
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is a second set of double automatic doors.
  • The second set of doors opens towards you.
  • There is a push plate/sensor at a height of 3ft 1in (95cm).
  • The door requires effort to open.
  • The doors have pull handles.
  • The width of the opening is 5ft 7in (170cm).
  • The doors have a high visual contrast.
  • Only the door to the left is automatic. The door to the right opens manually.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter the entrance.

Elevator

  • The elevator is located near the main entrance.
  • The elevator surveyed is approximately 7yd 1ft (7m) from the main entrance.
  • The most accessible route to the elevator has step-free level access.
  • 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 medium 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 3500lbs.
  • The elevator door has a high visual contrast.
  • The elevator door opening width is 3ft 6in (107cm).
  • The internal dimensions of the elevator are 6ft 9in width x 5ft 7in depth (205cm x 170cm).
  • 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.
  • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade.

Stairway

  • The stairway surveyed is located in front of you after entering.
  • There is a single manual door to access the stairwell.
  • The floors which are accessible by stairway are 0, 1 and 2.
  • 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 (90cm).
  • The handrails cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
  • The handrail extends 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 12in (30cm).
  • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.

Restroom with Accessibility Features (Floor 1 - Gender Inclusive - Left Hand Transfer)

  • Location and Access View
    • The restroom surveyed is a single-occupant restroom.
    • The restroom surveyed is located to your left on entrance.
    • The restroom surveyed is approximately 32yd 2ft (30m) from the main entrance.
    • The most accessible route to the restroom has step-free level access.
    • 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 push button lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The overall dimensions are 7ft 9in x 7ft 1in (235cm x 215cm).
    • The turning space dimensions are 7ft 9in x 4ft 11in (235cm x 150cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the toilet as you look at it.
    • The lateral transfer space is 3ft 1in (95cm) (from the side of the toilet bowl to the wall).
    • There is a push button flush on the 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.
    • There is a vertical grab bar on the side wall.
    • The vertical grab bar has 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 7in (48cm) from the floor.
    • The sink is 2ft 9in (84cm) 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 8in (112cm) from the floor.
    • There is a wall-mounted hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer has a low visual contrast.
    • The hand dryer is 3ft 5in (103cm) from the floor.
    • 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 and a sanitary products receptacle.
    • There is one coat hook.
    • The coat hook is 3ft 11in (120cm) from the floor.
    • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey.