Biochemistry

Please note: Estates will be reviewing all departments access information via departmental administrators during michealmas 2010. If, in the meantime, you would like to update your information please contact disability@admin.ox.ac.uk. As some of the information is now out of date please use caution when refering to these webpages and contact the department direct for current Access information.

South Parks Road. Tel. (01865) 275263

Department of Biochemistry Website

The Biochemistry Department is situated in the University science area off South Parks Road. It is a seven-storey tower block with three other buildings adjacent. Undergraduate students use the tower in the first 3 years' of their course for lectures, with practical classes held in the Zoology Department at the end of South Parks Road. The three adjacent buildings vary in their level of access provision for the disabled but are only used by students in their 4th year. Wherever possible, students' needs will be accommodated according to options taken for their 4th year; graduate students are advised to talk to their supervisor. The three adjacent buildings include the Rodney Porter Building (Glycobiology), the Rex Richards Building (Molecular Biophysics and MRC Immunochemistry Unit) and the Donald Woods Building (Microbiology).

The approach from South Parks Road is along Hinshelwood Road which is flat, but has a small traffic speed ramp. There are two entrances in the tower block both with double doors. Wheelchair access is via two ramped approaches, both with dropped curbs. The main entrance is narrow has no handrail and is accessed from Dorothy Hodgkin Road. Three designated disabled parking spaces are available in Hinshelwood Road through the loading bay and meets specification for ramp gradient. It has three handrails on the left side. The double entrance doors meet specifications in height and width but are too heavy for an independent wheelchair user - entry out of hours is by swipe card. All corridors meet specifications; hearing loops are installed in all lecture theatres.

Once inside, all the corridors within the building that provide access to the facilities meet specification; all access to facilities is flat. There are stairs and two identical lifts to all floors, both of which meet specifications. All internal doors are double swing doors that meet specification.There are three lecture rooms on the ground floor. Inside, there is space at the front for wheelchair users. The room goes back to a height of +10 stairs. The fire exit is situated at +10 stairs and special arrangements for negotiating this have been made in the past. There is a fire exit also available on the ground floor. The two other lecture rooms are identical to each other. Inside, there is room for wheelchair users at the back (same level as the door). The room goes -10 stairs with one handrail on the left at 800mm.

The library is on the seventh floor but access is only necessary for fourth year students. The library is not staffed, but arrangements can be made to get books if necessary. There is a canteen on the seventh floor. The counter meets specification for width however it is slightly higher than specification, but it is staffed. All other facilities in the canteen are accessible. In two laboratories are purpose built benches that are 750mm in height. An undergraduate computer room is also accessible for wheelchair users. Adapted computer equipment and software can be arranged

There is no loop induction/infrared system (or minicom) in the reception/lecture theatres but a student with a hearing impairment has used a mobile loop-system in the lecture theatres successfully. There is one accessible unisex toilet that meets all the specifications for a wheelchair user and it is situated on the second floor, close to the lift.