Hi Andy and all those who were interested in the accessible sports design
changing room enquiry I made a bit ago.

I had a trip to Greenbank Sports Academy in Liverpool, UK and it was well
worth it, next time you are up Andy we should go there again. I would like
to go back and take some photos. Here is the information I gleaned from the
trip.

It was built 2 years ago at just over 3 million pounds sterling and worked
out at £850 per square metre, which they reckoned was good going. They have
a gym and sports hall along with conference facilities and accommodation.
They would like to build a swimming pool but do not have any more land
available to do so. it is self-financing with the money coming from gym fees
and conferences, weddings etc. It attracts members of the public plus
students training for sports related qualifications plus runs many sporting
team related activities.

There is generous circulation space everywhere which makes the place feel
very relaxed, although the reception desk is badly placed in terms of coming
in through the front doors it is tucked away around the corner and hard to
spot as a visitor. Front doors are automatic sliding and all the main doors
internally are power assisted but the buttons are hard to find if unfamiliar
and if opened manually they kick in with some force and smash against the
wall - as Adrian can testify! The signage is clear and easy to read although
the terminology requires familiarity of the complex to be meaningful. Adrian
found the Braille signage too low and some of the dots had been knocked off
which made it hard to understand. It highlighted the problem that Braille
signs can be hard to find, but they had tried to be consistent in the
placing of them.

The restaurant is great with nice tables that you can get under easily and
have curved legs to allow for sports chairs and plastic chairs with arms,
and without, that look stylish but are not cumbersome. The colour schemes
work quite well but could be improved. The ironmongery is well placed and
easy to use. The menu was easy to follow although I guess they did not have
a Braille one since they did not offer one.

The corridors, which were few since mostly it was large lobby areas, were
2200mm wide and any corners were splayed to avoid sharp 90 degree turns. Any
items such as drink fountains and vending machines were recessed but
accessible.

The male changing room was 6000 by 7000mm with fixed benches all around but
they were fixed to the wall and had no feet giving clear space under them.
Above these were hat and coat hooks all round in good colour contrast to
walls and floor. At one side was a door to an additional changing area 3000
by 6000mm again with benches. there was one changing bed in the main room
1400mm by 750mm and 450mm high. The main changing area leads into the shower
area which had a 2000mm wide opening and large radiused corners to the wall
opening into the shower area.

Inside the shower area it was 2600mm deep and 6000mm wide. Each side was
laid out slightly differently, the left was 2 fixed head shower consoles on
the side wall and one adjustable one on the back wall, whilst the right was
one fixed on the back wall and one fixed and one adjustable on the side
wall. This side also had a loose changing bed 1500 by 450 mm which was 410
mm high.

There were toilets on the opposite side to the changing rooms which
comprised 3 accessible stalls 2500mm deep by 2000mm wide and were differing
hands, but none peninsular. There were 3 urinals one which was lower.

There was a separate room which they called the referees room which was
accessed from the main corridor and was therefore unisex. It was 2800mm by
3000mm and contained a changing bed 1750mm by 750mm by 560mm high. There was
a level access shower with a hoist system and shower seat that was height
adjustable. An accessible toilet and adjustable height full size wash basin.

I am sure there was much more but time prevented a fuller exploration.

Sorry to bore the rest of you with this, but felt I wanted to share the
information since others had shared there information with us.

cheers
marcus

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