Rhodes House

There is no parking on site.

• Public Blue Badge parking is available on Parks Road outside Wadham College, just over 300 m from Rhodes House.

Main entrance

The main entrance is on South Parks Road, in the centre of the building. There is ramped and stepped access.

• There are 4 steps to the entrance, with no handrails or contrasting markings on the step edges.
• Long ramps provide access on both sides of the steps. The ramps are wide with a gentle gradient.
• There are no contrasting markings at the start or end of the ramps.
• The entrance door is powered.
• The push button for the powered door is 90 cm from floor level and is opposite the entrance. The button will be behind you when you are facing the door.
• Inside, the reception desk is on the right. Continue straight ahead to the Rotunda and the rest of the building.

Accommodation and out-of-hours entrance - East Lodge

East Lodge is on South Parks Road, on the left side of the building when facing Rhodes House. It provides step-free access for guests accessing accommodation and is also used as an out-of-hours entrance.

• There is level access to the entrance.
• The entrance door is manual and is usually held open.
• Inside, the reception desk is straight ahead.
• The lift down to the accommodation is on the left.

There is no hearing support system at either reception desk. 

Main entrance reception

The reception desk is on the right as you enter the main entrance lobby.

• The reception counter is 130 cm high.
• If reception staff are away from the desk, there is a bell push to call for assistance. The bell push is 146 cm from floor level.
• Reception is staffed from 9 am to 5 pm.
• Beyond reception, continue into the Rotunda for lift and stepped access to the rest of the building.

Accommodation and out-of-hours reception - East Lodge

The reception desk is ahead and to the left as you enter East Lodge.

• The desk has a lower section with knee recess space and a counter 75 cm from floor level.
• There is also a higher section of counter.
• From the reception area there is lift access down to the accommodation.
• There is step-free access to the gardens.
• There is platform lift and stepped access to the ground floor of the main building.

There are several accessible toilets throughout Rhodes House.

Lower ground floor

• An accessible toilet is located below the Rotunda, next to the standard male toilets.
• An accessible toilet is located near the East Wing meeting rooms.
• An accessible toilet is located near the staff area, next to the standard gender-neutral toilets.
• An accessible shower is also located in the staff area. 

Ground floor

• An accessible toilet is located near the East Wing meeting rooms. The entrance door is narrow, with a clear width of 70 cm.
• An accessible toilet is located just outside the East Lodge reception.

Standard toilets

Standard male and female toilets are located below the Rotunda. Standard gender-neutral toilets are located near the staff area.

There is lift access to virtually all areas of Rhodes House. 

The West Wing platform lift was still under construction at the time of the audit so is not covered here. This will provide access between the ground floor, garden, and first floor. Other lifts currently provide access to these areas but involve longer travel distances. 

Vestibule lift - connects ground floor with lower fround floor

• At ground floor come through the main entrance and Rotunda - the lift is in the vestibule
• Call buttons are within the range 100 cm to 120 cm high
• Call buttons are recessed and may be hard to reach
• Lift car dimensions are 1.4 m wide and 1.1 m deep
• Doors have a clear width of 90 cm
• Control buttons are in the range 90 cm to 100 cm high
• Control buttons are tactile and have Braille
• There is a handrail to the left
• There is no audio information. There is a display
• The lift is well lit
• Floor surface is plain and non-reflective
• Walls have a reflective surface
• There are 2 mirrors on the back wall

East Wing platform lift - connects ground floor with first floor

• At ground floor the lift is on the long corridor outside the Milner Hall
• Call buttons are 100cm high
• Call buttons are recessed and may be hard to reach
• Lift car dimensions are 1m wide and 1.5m deep
• Doors have a clear width of 90cm
• Doors are manual and heavy
• Control buttons are 100cm high
• Control buttons are tactile and have Braille
• There is a handrail next to the control buttons
• There is audio information and a display
• The lights switch on when the control buttons are pressed - this means the lift has low lighting when you enter it
• The lift is well lit once the lights are on
• Floor surface is plain and non-reflective
• Walls have a reflective surface
• There is no mirror

East Lodge platform lift - connects entrance at street level with ground floor

• Lift is just outside the East Lodge
• No call button at lower level - staff call lift with a remote fob
• Call button at upper level is 90 cm high
• Call button is recessed and may be hard to reach
• Lift car dimensions are 1 m wide and 1.5 m deep
• At the lower level there is high threshold of 5 cm and a short but steep ramp into the lift
• Doors have a clear width of 80 cm
• Doors are manual and light with no pull handle or push plate
• Doors are glass and have no contrasting markings
• Control buttons are 1m high
• Control buttons are tactile but only have Braille on the alarm button
• There is no handrail
• This is an open lift in a well lit area
• Floor surface is plain and non-reflective

East Lodge entrance lobby lift - connects ground floor to accommodation at lower ground floor

• At ground floor this lift is within the East Lodge entrance lobby
• Call buttons are 100 cm high
• Call buttons are recessed and may be hard to reach
• Lift car dimensions are 1.1 m wide and 1.4 m deep
• Doors have a clear width of 100 cm
• Control buttons are 90 cm high
• Control buttons are tactile and have Braille
• There is a handrail next to the control buttons
• The lift is well lit
• Floor surface is plain and non-reflective
• Walls have a non-reflective surface
• There is no mirror - this is a through-lift so no need to reverse out

Convening Hall platform lift - provides step free access to events space 

• Lift is in between the 2 staircases leading to the Convening Hall event space
• Call buttons are 100 cm high
• Lift car dimensions are 1.1 m wide and 2.2 m deep
• Doors have a clear width of 100 cm
• Control buttons are 100 cm high
• Control buttons are tactile and have Braille
• There is a handrail next to the control buttons
• There is audio information and a display
• The lift is well lit
• Floor surface is plain and non-reflective
• Walls have a non-reflective surface
• There is no mirror - this is a through-lift so no need to reverse out

• Most of the older stairs have handrails to one side only, and minimal contrasting markings on the step edges
• Some of the older stairs are carpeted
• The stairs to the Hawksley Room are steep
• The newer stairs have handrails both sides and contrasting markings on the step edges
• There is a new spiral staircase in the Rotunda. This has contrasting markings on step edges and handrails both sides
• External stairs to the garden from the ground floor level have no handrails, and no contrasting markings on the step edges
• External stairs to the new accommodation area have handrails both sides and contrasting markings on the step edges
• External stairs to the Convening Hall have handrails both sides and contrasting markings on the step edges

• The main entrance has wide powered doors
• The accommodation and out of hours entrance is held open and has a clear width of 90 cm
• Many doors on access routes around the building are held open
• No internal doors are powered
• Secure doors have access card readers in the range 80 cm to 120 cm high
• There are many double doors in older parts of the building. Most have narrow single leaves with a clear width of under 70 cm, but well over 80 cm when both leaves are open
• Most single leaf older doors have a clear width of at least 75 cm, a few are narrower than this
• Some older doors have glazed panels; most are solid wood
• Newer doors have a clear width of at least 80 cm
• Newer doors are either fully glazed or have full height vision panels (where appropriate) 

Conference, event and lecture space. 

Access

• The hall and breakout space is on the lower ground floor
• Lift and stepped access to lower ground floor
• Toilets and breakout space are all on the same level
• Toilets are off the Rotunda space - there are male and female toilets as well as an accessible toilet
• The main hall is at a lower level than the breakout space - there is lift and stepped access

Breakout space

• Large circulation space
• Open spaces and smaller meeting booths available 

Main Hall

• 4 Manual doors into hall
• Light doors with a clear width of 85 cm
• Level access across the hall - no raised stage
• Flexible space that can be set up in a variety of ways
• Loose furniture that can be arranged as needed
• Room can be subdivided into 3 smaller rooms
• Large video screens around the hall
• Loudspeakers around the hall
• Height adjustable lectern
• Wi-Fi based hearing support system in the hall - please contact Rhodes House directly to ask about this

Dining, event and presentation space. 

• The hall is on the ground floor
• Step-free access
• 4 manual double doors into hall
• Light doors. Single leaves are narrow with a clear width of between 52 cm and 65 cm. Opening both leaves gives a clear width of at least 100 cm - doors can be held open
• Flexible space that can be set up in a variety of ways (photos show dining hall layout)
• Step-free access around most of hall
• 2 steps up to the raised stage and top table
• Ramped access out to terrace and gardens
• Loudspeakers around the hall
• No hearing support system in the hall

2 small rooms used for receptions, presentations and meeting space.

Both rooms are connected. There is step-free access between both rooms. 

Reception Room

• This room is on the ground floor
• Step-free access
• Heavy manual double door. Single leaf has a clear width of 63 cm. Opening both leaves gives a clear width of 131 cm
• Flexible space that can be set up in a variety of ways
• Loose furniture that can be arranged as needed
• No hearing support system in the room

Beit Room

• This room is on the ground floor
• Step-free access
• Heavy manual double door. Single leaf has a clear width of 73 cm. Opening both leaves gives a clear width of 141 cm
• Flexible space that can be set up in a variety of ways
• Loose furniture that can be arranged as needed
• No hearing support system in the room

Small gatherings, presentation and meeting space

• The Pavilion is in the garden
• Exit the main building from the West Wing using platform lift or steps to get down to garden level
• There is ramped and stepped access up to the Pavilion entrance
• The ramp has a gentle slope. No handrails or contrasting markings
• The steps are wide and deep. No handrails or contrasting markings
• The entrance has wide powered sliding doors into a small lobby
• The lobby has 2 medium weight manual doors leading into the Pavilion. Doors have a clear width of 100 cm
• Flexible space that can be set up in a variety of ways
• Loose furniture that can be arranged as needed
• Large video screen
• Loudspeakers
• Wi-Fi based hearing support system in the Pavilion - please contact Rhodes House directly to ask about this

Secondary entrance/exit

• Wide manual sliding doors
• Stepped access only. Steps are wide and deep. No handrails or contrasting markings

• The garden is at street level - this is lower than the ground floor level
• There is step-free access to the garden from the West Wing, McCall MacBain Hall, and East Lodge. All three routes have ramped access
• Ramps are gently sloping and have no handrails or contrasting markings
• There are also several stepped access points to the garden - steps have no handrails or contrasting step edges
• Level paved surface outside all 3 step-free access points
• Paths around building are loose gravel designed to be accessible to wheelchair users (shallow layer of gravel with a firm surface below)
• Outdoor seating areas outside East Lodge and McCall MacBain Hall - level paved surface
• Outdoor seating area outside East Garden Room - loose gravel surface
• There is stepped access only to the small Warden's Garden and the historic Civil War ramparts
• There is a large lawn in the west area of the gardens
• The Garden Pavilion can only be accessed from the gardens - there is step free access on a level paved surface from the West Wing 

• Wi-Fi based hearing support system in the Convening Hall (main event space) and Garden Pavilion (smaller event space)
• Contact Rhodes House directly to ask about this system
• No other hearing support systems in place at Rhodes House at present