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Wister Center

Swarthmore College, 440 College Ave, Swarthmore, PA, 19081

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Access Guide

About

Getting Inside

  • The approach to the Wister Center is step-free via slopes of varying degrees of gradient.
    The approach from the car park has posts along the route.
    The approach from the main campus and Cunningham House is via a slope with a gradient of 9.8%.
  • There is step-free level access to all areas once inside the building.
  • The Wister Center has 3 entrances, 1 entrance is accessible with automatic doors and ramped access.
    All entrances provide step-free access into the building.
  • There is no distinguishing signage between the entrances.
  • The accessible entrance has ramped access, an automatic door and provides step-free access into the building.
  • The entrance to the left of the building has step-free level access with uneven surfaces and a manual door that is key card operated.
    This entrance is for staff only and gives access to the potting room.
    The entrance to the right of the building has step-free access via slope with a gradient of 2.6%.
    This entrance has manual doors and gives access to the rear corridor of the Wister Center building.

Getting Around

  • There is step-free level access throughout the building.
  • Access to the potting room is via a manual door which is 2ft 9in (85cm) wide.
    The tables in the potting room are 2ft 11in (91cm) high.
  • The greenhouses are located to the rear of the potting room are accessed via a manual door which is 2ft 9in (87cm) wide.
  • Floor surfaces along all circulation routes are hard and smooth, with some having a shiny finish.
    There is a carpeted area as you enter the accessible entrance.
  • There are resting areas in the main entrance and rear entrance foyers.
  • There is limited wayfinding signage available.
  • There is an assistive listening system.
  • The assistive listening systems are located within the 100 Gillespie Room.
  • There is not a designated safe or quiet space.

Restrooms and Changing Facilities Available

  • Single-occupant Restrooms with Accessibility Features View
    • There are 2 single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features.
    • The single-occupant restrooms with accessibility features are located to the left as you enter the Wister Center, along the corridor and on the left.
    • 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 the main floor.
  • Changing Facilities View
    • Parent and baby changing facilities are located within the restroom with accessibility features that has a right hand transfer space.

Parking (Wister Parking)

  • Parking View
    • The parking lot is located in front of the Wister Center.
    • The parking lot is open air/surface.
    • The surface consists of asphalt.
  • Accessible Parking Spaces View
    • There are no designated accessible parking spaces available.
  • Van Accessible Parking Spaces View
    • There is 1 designated van accessible parking space available.
    • The van accessible parking spaces are clearly marked and signposted.
    • The van accessible parking space width is 9ft 1in (276cm).
    • There is an adjacent marked access aisle to one side.
    • The width of the adjacent marked access aisle is 8ft 4in (253cm).
    • The adjacent marked access aisle extends the full length of the parking space.
    • The nearest designated van accessible parking space is 12yd 1in (11m) from the Wister Center accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible route from the designated van accessible parking has bollards.
    • There is no curb ramp from the designated van accessible parking.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • Parking is free for all users.
    • Parking charges/restriction signs are provided.
    • Signs are easy to read.
  • Passenger Loading Zone View
    • There is not a designated passenger loading zone available.

Entrance (Accessible Entrance)

  • This entrance is located at the front of the Wister Center building.
  • The approach to the entrance has bollards.
  • There is step-free access via ramp at the entrance.
  • The ramp has a gradient of 1:15.
  • There is not a step-free level resting area.
  • The width of the ramp is 5ft 3in (159cm).
  • The ramp has no handrails.
  • 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 2ft 7in (80cm).
  • 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 3in (100cm).
  • The door has a lever handle.
  • The width of the opening is 3ft 2in (97cm).
  • There is a squared threshold (more than 1/2in) at the opening.
  • The door has a high visual contrast.
  • There is step-free level access as you enter the entrance.

Teaching (100 Gillespie Room)

  • This is a teaching room.
  • Location and Access View
    • The room surveyed is located to the right as you enter via the Wister Center accessible entrance.
    • The room surveyed is approximately 2yd 7in (2m) from the Wister Center accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible route to the room has step-free level access.
    • There is Braille, tactile, pictorial and written text signage on or near the entrance.
    • There is step-free level access to enter.
    • There is a single manual door to enter the room.
    • The door has a high visual contrast.
    • The door opens towards you.
    • The door requires effort to open.
    • The door has a lever handle.
    • The width of the opening is 4ft 1in (124cm).
    • At the time of the survey (July 2025) the extension leaf was open.
      With the extension leaf locked, the width of the door would be 2ft 9in (85cm).
  • Room Details View
    • There is step-free level access throughout.
    • There is space for a wheelchair user to maneuver (60in x 60in - 1525mm x 1525mm).
    • Some flooring is shiny.
    • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor.
    • There is space for a service animal to rest.
    • There is not designated aisle seating.
    • There are chairs without armrests in this room.
    • There are tables in this room.
    • All tables are suitable for wheelchair users (between 28in and 34in - 710mm and 860mm from the floor).
    • There is step-free level access to the speaker's area.
    • The speaker's desk is not height adjustable.
    • The lectern being surveyed is a full-size podium.
    • The height of the lectern is 3ft 5in (105cm).
    • The lectern is not height adjustable.
    • There is a clearly signed fixed assistive listening system.
    • The assistive listening system could not be tested at the time of the survey.
    • This room has a projector screen and a blackboard.
    • Lighting levels were even at the time of the survey, with unshaded light sources.
    • Lighting levels are adjustable.

Locker Room (Coat and Locker Room)

  • Location and Access View
    • The universal locker room was surveyed.
    • The locker room surveyed is located immediately ahead as you enter the Wister Center.
    • The locker room surveyed is approximately 5yd 1ft (5m) from the Wister Center accessible entrance.
    • The most accessible route to the locker room has step-free level access.
    • There is Braille, tactile and written text signage on or near the entrance.
    • There is step-free level access to enter.
    • There is an opening without doors to enter the locker room.
    • The width of the opening is 3ft 4in (101cm).
  • Room Details View
    • There is space for a wheelchair user to maneuver (60in x 60in - 1525mm x 1525mm).
    • Facilities in the locker room include: lockers.
    • There is a locker at a suitable height for a wheelchair user (within 48in (1220mm) from the floor).
    • Additional features in the locker room include: coat hooks and shelves.
    • There is a coat hook at a suitable height for a wheelchair user (between 40in (1015mm) - 48in (1220mm)).
    • There is a shelf at a suitable height for a wheelchair user (between 40in (1015mm) - 48in (1220mm)).
    • The locker room has no disposal facilities.
    • 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.
    • There is wheelchair space to manoeuvre in the coat hanging section of the room only.

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

  • Location and Access View
    • The restroom surveyed is a single-occupant restroom.
    • The restroom surveyed is located to the left as you enter the Wister Center, along the corridor and on the left.
    • The restroom surveyed is approximately 10yd 2ft (10m) from the Wister Center accessible entrance.
    • 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 push button lock.
    • Internally the door has a high visual contrast.
  • Dimensions and Features View
    • The overall dimensions are 6ft 10in x 6ft 1in (208cm x 185cm).
    • The turning space dimensions are 4ft 11in x 4ft 5in (150cm x 135cm).
    • There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the toilet as you look at it.
    • The lateral transfer space is 3ft 5in (104cm) (from the side of the toilet bowl to the wall).
    • There is an automatic for the toilet.
    • 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 8in (51cm) from the floor.
    • The sink is 2ft 11in (88cm) from the floor.
    • The area underneath the sink is unobstructed .
    • The sink faucet type is sensor.
    • There is a wall-mounted soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser has a high visual contrast.
    • The soap dispenser is 3ft 10in (117cm) 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 11in (119cm) from the floor.
    • There is not a hand dryer.
    • There is a mirror above the sink/counter top with its bottom edge within 40in (1000mm) maximum from the finish floor.
    • There is no shelf.
    • The stall has a wastebasket and a sanitary products receptacle.
    • There are two coat hooks.
    • The coat hooks are 3ft 8in and 4ft 9in (113cm and 144cm) from the floor.
    • There is a high visual contrast between the walls and floor.
    • Lighting levels were uneven at the time of the survey, with pools of light and shade and unshaded light sources.