1 25/11/15 - VisitEngland · 1 25/11/15 Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG T: +44 (0)121 348 8000 E: [email protected]

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Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG T: +44 (0)121 348 8000 E: [email protected] | birminghammuseums.org.uk

Birmingham Museums Limited. Registered Office: Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3DH Company No: 07737797 | Charity No: 1147014 | VAT Reg No: 765 3574 02

Access Statement for Thinktank

This access statement does not contain personal opinions as to our sustainability for those with access needs, but aims to accurately describe the facilities and services that we offer our visitors.

If you require this access statement in an alternative format please contact us by phoning the enquiries team on 0121 348 8000 or emailing [email protected]

mailto:BMAG.Enquiries%40birminghammuseums.org.uk?subject=Alternative%20Access%20Statement

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Welcome

Thinktank, Birmingham's award winning science museum, offers an enlightening and fun packed day out for the family. From steam engines and talking robots through to gurgling guts and a chocolate wrapping machine, Thinktank has over 300 hands-on displays on science and technology.

Housed inside the impressive Millennium Point building, at Thinktank you will find four floors of hands-on exhibits and historical collections that will amaze and inspire you, showing you the science of the world all around us. Including the Science Garden, Planetarium and an exciting programme of events and activities, there is something for everyone to enjoy.

Both Thinktank and Millennium Point have lifts to all the floors. Wheelchairs are available to borrow and space is available in all areas.

There are accessible toilets on all levels and baby change and adult change facilities are available

Large print maps are available from our ticket desk on Level 2

Assistance Dogs are very welcome and a water bowl is available for use

Fixed induction loops are placed at key points in the museum and portable ones are available to borrow

We have a downloadable social story which uses images and easy read English to provide an overview of a visit. This is available via our website:

http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank/visit/facilities-accessibility

A virtual tour of Thinktank has been created by Autism West Midlands. This is available via the website address below.

http://www.seeinsidetheuk.com/autism_wm/birmingham/

We look forward to welcoming you. If you have any queries or require any assistance please phone 0121 348 8000 or email [email protected]

http://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/thinktank/visit/facilities-accessibilityhttp://www.seeinsidetheuk.com/autism_wm/birmingham/

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Contents

Planning your visit 4

Car parking 5

Main Entrance, Reception and Ticketing Area 7

Concessionary ticket policy 8

Personal assistants 8

Additional resources 9

Lifts 10

Stairs 10

Photosensitive epilepsy advice 11

Gallery spaces 12

Public toilets 19

Café and coffee cart 20

Shop 21

Additional information 22

Future plans 22

Contact information 22

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Planning your visit

By Bus

Frequent Bus routes operate from the Jennens Road side of the building into and from the City Centre. Bus Numbers 94, 55, 55a, 72, 70 & 14, operated by National Express West Midlands, all serve Millennium Point. The bus stops in the City Centre operate from Priory Queensway.

For additional help to plan a journey can be found on the Traveline website: http://www.travelinemidlands.co.uk/wmtis/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&timeOffset=15

From the bus stops, it is a 5 minute walk to the museum either via Jennens Road or from Eastside City Park leading onto Curzon Street

If returning to the city center by Bus, there is sheltered seating within the bus stop shelters

More information about the accessibility of the bus service can be found via the National Express website: http://nxbus.co.uk/files/NXWestMids/Legal-2015/DisabilityandAccessibilityPolicyApril2015.pdf

By Rail

The nearest train station is Moor Street station (10 mins walk away). Turn right upon leaving Moor St Station, just before Hotel La Tour, veer right to enter the City Park. Walk through the Park, past the Science Garden and in through the entrance of Millennium Point.

Access information for Moor Street Station can be found here: www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/BMO/stationOverview.xhtml

New Street Station (15 mins walk away). Due to the redevelopment of Birmingham New Street station, changes have been made to the entrance/exit points. From New Street Station follow clear signage to Moor Street Station (approx 5 minute walk) then follow directions above.

Access information for New Street can be found here: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/BHM/stationOverview.xhtml

There are taxi ranks both at Moor Street and New Street stations

Please refer to the National Rail website for train times & fares

By Bicycle

Thinktank is situated within Millennium Point and located in Digbeth. For Google Maps and Sat Nav use postcode B4 7AP. Bike racks can be found on the north side, Jennens Road, and south side, Curzon Street.

By Road

Thinktank is situated within Millennium Point and located in Digbeth. A Birmingham City Council multi-storey car park is situated next to Millennium Point (charges apply) and the entrance is situated off Jennens Road. Blue Badge holders can park for free.

http://www.travelinemidlands.co.uk/wmtis/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&timeOffset=15http://www.travelinemidlands.co.uk/wmtis/XSLT_TRIP_REQUEST2?language=en&timeOffset=15http://nxbus.co.uk/files/NXWestMids/Legal-2015/DisabilityandAccessibilityPolicyApril2015.pdfhttp://nxbus.co.uk/files/NXWestMids/Legal-2015/DisabilityandAccessibilityPolicyApril2015.pdfhttp://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/BMO/stationOverview.xhtmlhttp://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/sjp/BHM/stationOverview.xhtml

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For Google Maps and Sat Nav use postcode B4 7AP. Just minutes from Birmingham City Center and The Bullring, the nearest motorways are the M6, M5 and M42.

Car Parking

Birmingham City Council operates a multi-storey car park located on Jennens Road

Blue Badge holders can park for free

The maximum height restriction for the car park is 2.1 metres

Image 1 – Photo of multi-story car park entrance

There are 20 blue badge bays within the car park

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Image 2 – Photo of blue badge bays in multi-story car park

The surface of the multi-story car park is concrete and the car park is well lit

The Millennium Point building is approximately 20 meters from the multi-story car park

From Level 1 and Level 2 of the multi-story car park there is step free access into Millennium Point

Thinktank’s main entrance is located on Level 2 of Millennium Point

Millennium Point has central lifts to all floors

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Main Entrance to Thinktank, Reception and Ticketing Area

Tickets can be purchased at the main entrance to the museum at the Thinktank ticket desk

Access is step free and there are no entrance doors

The flooring is stone tiles and smooth, plastic coated and non-slip flooring

Lighting in the main entrance is bright and is provided by spotlights

There is no background music in the main entrance area but background noise from other visitors in the area is possible

Image 3 – Photo of Thinktank Main Entrance

Image 4 – Photo of Thinktank staff at ticket desk

All staff wear branded Birmingham Museum Trust uniform

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The ticket desk is wheelchair accessible; the entire counter is at the same height at 37 inches/ 94 cm

Fixed induction loops are situated at the ticket desk

Concessionary rate tickets are available

Visitors are provided with a coloured branded wristband as proof of purchase

Concessionary ticket policy To be eligible for the concessionary ticket rate, you must receive one or more of the following:

Disability Living Allowance

Personal Independence Payment

Job Seekers Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Income Support

Council Tax Support

Housing Benefit or be one of the following:

Full time student

Over 60

Please note that BMT reserves the right to ask for evidence of status or receipt of benefits before issuing any such concessionary tickets. Evidence could be proof of age documentation, valid student ID or official documentation showing benefit receipt.

Personal Assistants

Thinktank welcomes personal assistants with those visitors that require them.

We will permit one personal assistant free entry to the museum to accompany those in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment.

For those persons that may require multiple personal assistants, prior arrangements must be made with the Museum Manager.

Due to our adherence to health and safety guidelines, we cannot allow anyone under the age of 16 years to be a personal assistant to another person.

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Additional resources

We have a variety of resources available for visitors to use during their visit. These are available from the Thinktank ticket desk on level 2.

Resources include

Wheelchairs

Large print maps and guides

Large magnifying glasses

Portable induction loops

Image 5 & 6 – Photos of our large print map and large magnifying glasses

Image 7 & 8 – Photos of our portable induction loops

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Lifts

The building has accessible lifts to every floor

The lift doors are 109cm in width and 210cm height

The lift is 160cm deep

The lift has see-through scenic glass panels to the front and rear

The lift has audio announcements

Image 9 & 10 – Photo of lift and a flight of stairs

Stairs

The stairs have open steps

There are 8 steps per flight of stairs

There are 3 flights of stairs per floor

There are 3 floors in the building

There are handrails on both sides of the stairs

The flooring of the steps is textured, plastic coated and non-slip

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Advice to visitors affected by photosensitive epilepsy

Persons affected are sensitive to flash rates around 16-25 Hz but some seizures may be triggered at rates as low as 3Hz and up to 60Hz. This is sometimes known as flicker sensitive epilepsy. Some of our displays fall within this range. The areas you may need to take extra care or avoid are: Level 2

Medicine Matters: all areas.

Things About Me.

Satellite TV display. Take particular care when viewing the four large monitors. Level 0 Rapidly rotating flywheel on the high speed Hovis engine when seen against a bright e.g sunlit background and should be avoided: try another viewpoint.

Planetarium

There are 2 types of planetarium show:

1) Automated which operate at 30hz and

2) all other shows which operate at 60hz by projection onto a screen.

All content is quite slow moving and flash free except Roller Coaster on Triton.

Some visitors can suffer from a form of travel sickness owing to the movement of the visuals, but the planetarium should not trigger epilepsy.

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Museum Gallery Spaces

Thinktank covers four floors and includes an outdoor science garden area. There are 12 individual gallery spaces looking at science of the past, the present and the future. There is no set route around the museum and visitors are free to explore as they wish. Visitors are also able to leave the site and return on the same day if required.

The museum houses over 300 interactive exhibits and hundreds of objects from our science and industry collection.

Seating is available within all 12 galleries including directly outside the main entrance and within our Science Garden

Lighting levels are low in the museum and it is provided by ceiling spot lights

The floor surface of the museum is smooth, plastic coated and non-slip

The surface of the science garden can be slippery when wet

Level 3 – Futures Gallery

The Futures Gallery is about what we think technology may be like in the future, with a particular focus on medicine and robotics. There is also a section about space travel and exploration.

The floor surface is a combination of smooth, plastic coated non-slip flooring and carpet tiles

Image 11 & 12 – Photos of futures gallery

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Planetarium – Level 3

The Thinktank Planetarium offers a wide range of shows about astronomy and space, including tours around the night sky, adventures around the solar system, and journeying to the edge of the universe.

Tickets for the Planetarium are £1.00 per person. Tickets are available at the Thinktank ticket desk

The Planetarium can accommodate a maximum of six wheelchair users

A British Sign Language interpreted show and a subtitled show are available on request

Tactile books have been created to be used within selected Planetarium shows

There is a fixed induction loop within the Planetarium

The floor surface is carpet tiles

Image 13 – photo from inside the planetarium

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Level 2 – The Street and Recycling Galleries

This is an area all about the science and technology of the street and your home.

The floor surface is a combination of smooth, plastic coated and non-slip flooring

Image 14 & 15 – Photos of the street and recycle galleries

Level 2 – Wildlife Gallery

The Wildlife gallery showcases biodiversity and how plants and animals have adapted to where they live. There are lots of natural history specimens and animals from the past which are now preserved as fossils.


Image 16 – Photos of the street and recycle galleries

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Level 2 – Medicine Matters Gallery

Medicine Matters explores different aspects of modern medicine, including surgery, genetics, the brain, public health and immunology.

Videos within this gallery include subtitles

The floor surface is a combination of smooth, plastic coated non-slip flooring and carpet tiles

Image 17 & 18 – Photos of the Medicine Matters gallery

Level 2 – Kids’ City Gallery

Kids’ City is an area specifically designed for under 7s, where children are able to learn through play. Children of all ages are able to use the area with supervision.


Image 19 & 20 – Photos of the Kids’ City gallery

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Level 2 – Things About Me Gallery

The Things About Me Gallery is all about the human body.


Image 21 & 22 – Photos of the Things About Me gallery

Level 1 – Spitfire Gallery

The gallery tells the story of the Spitfire, from its innovative design and cutting-edge technology that played a key role in the Second World War, to its lasting legacy on the city of Birmingham.


Image 23 & 24 – Photos of the Spitfire gallery

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Level 1 – We Made It Gallery

We Made It features more than 20 interactive exhibits that show just how and why Birmingham became known as ‘the workshop of the world’. Visitors are taken on a journey from raw materials to finished product, demonstrating how everyday goods are produced.

Braille has been incorporated where possible next to tactile elements on display

Image 25– Photo of a tactile exhibit with braille

Level 0 - Power Up Gallery

Power Up showcases the evolution of power, from the Smethwick Engine which is the oldest working steam engine in the world, to information about modern electrical power station.

Please note that at regular intervals a large crashing sound will be heard within this gallery as a large volume of water falls from one of the exhibits


Image 26 – Photo of the Power Up gallery

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Level 0 – Move It Gallery

Move It is all about transport and different modes of transport. Objects in this area include a steam locomotive, a tram and lots of cars and bikes.


The Railton video within this gallery includes subtitles

Image 27 & 28 – Photos of the Move It gallery

Level 0 - Science Garden

The Science Garden is an outdoor discovery space packed with surprises and fun activities for the whole family. It offers an adventurous and entertaining day out, bringing themes of engineering, mechanics and transportation to life through over 30 hands-on exhibits.

The floor surface is a combination of stone tiles and play-top surfacing

The surface of the science garden can be slippery when wet

Image 29 & 30 – Photos of the Science Garden

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Public Toilets

There are accessible toilets on all floors in the museum. We also have baby changing and adult changing facilities. We also have separate male and female toilets on every floor.

Image 31& 32 – Photos of the accessible toilet and adult changing room on Level 0

Accessible toilet and adult changing facility

The width of the door is 36.5 inches/ 93 cm

There is clear space for wheelchairs

Left hand transfer onto WC

Height of WC from floor to seat is 18 inches/ 46 cm. There are also grab rails.

There are emergency pulls in all of the accessible toilets

We use a red light + tannoy system in the event of going into evacuation

Flourescent lighting is used

Non-slip laminate flooring

Lever taps are in the accessible toilets and sensor taps in all public toilets

The floor surface is tiled

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Thinktank Café and Coffee Cart – Level 0

At weekends and during school holidays the Thinktank Café is open between 10:30am and 4:30 pm. Monday to Friday during term time we have a Coffee Cart open within our lunch area which is open between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.

There is level access to Thinktank Café and Coffee Cart

There are ceiling spot lights in the lunch area, it can be slightly dark in the main cafe area; it is brighter in the lunch area

Both facilities cater for varying dietary needs

A large print menu is available on request

High chairs are available

Smaller portions can be arranged on request

It is a self-service cafe, with assistance available on request.

Crockery is white, tables are grey or brown


Image 33: Photo of the Thinktank Café

Height under tables in cafe area is 29.5 inches/ 75 cm

In the Coffee Cart area there are fixed seats as well as spaces at tables for wheelchair users. The height of the tables is 28.5 inches/ 73 cm

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Shop – Level 2

The Thinktank Gift Shop is located on level 2 of the museum. The shop offers wonderful souvenirs of your visit to Thinktank as well as some inspiring presents for special occasions.

The museum shop is open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm daily and is available to non-museum visitors. There are no doors and it is very open plan

The area is step free

Counter is 37 inches/ 94 cm high

Displays and tables are at various heights and are well spaced out

Assistance is available at all times

There is no background music

There is a fixed hearing loop at the counter


Lighting is bright and is provided by spotlights

Image 34 & 35: Photos of the Thinktank shop

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Additional Information

All staff are provided with disability and diversity training

Evacuation sheet is not available but all staff are trained to assist visitors in the event of a site evacuation

Wheelchair users will be evacuated as soon as possible in the event of an evacuation

We do not have any facilities for charging wheelchairs or mobility scooters

Assistance Dogs are very welcome and a water bowl is available for use. The nearest spending area is in East Side City Park which is adjacent to Millennium Point.

There are many hotels in Birmingham City Centre, the nearest being Hotel La Tour. This hotel provides accessible accommodation and more information about their offer is available via their website;

http://hotel-latour.co.uk/rooms/executive-rooms/accessible-rooms/

TOA Taxis provide an accessible Taxi service across Birmingham including Thinktank and Millennium Point. More information is available via their website;

http://www.toataxis.co.uk/services/disabled-passengers

Future Plans

We are always looking for ways to improve the service we provide our visitors, so please contact us if you have any comments or suggestions about this access statement or anything else that you think can improve your visit to the museum.

We are looking to expand our resources for international visitors

We are looking to expand subtitles on audio exhibits

Contact Information

Address (Inc postcode): Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum

Millennium Point

Curzon Street

Birmingham

B4 7XG

Telephone: 0121 348 8000

Minicom: n/a

Email: [email protected]

http://hotel-latour.co.uk/rooms/executive-rooms/accessible-rooms/http://www.toataxis.co.uk/services/disabled-passengers

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Website: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk

Grid Reference: Lat. 32.48 & Long. 1.89

Hours Of Operation: 7 days a week - 10am until 5pm, last entry at 4pm

Documents

1 25/11/15 - VisitEngland · 1 25/11/15 Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG T: +44 (0)121 348 8000 E: [email protected]