Welcome to Access-i

Square

Support :

The project to audit and certify 12 VENUES infrastructures was made possible by the valuable support of :

           

Please note :
This certification only concerns the building and not future events that may take place in it.
During events, the layout of the premises may change, resulting in a change in accessibility. The responsibility for this change would then lie with the event organiser.
Furthermore, the certification visit only concerned the public part of the building and not the rented parts.

Description of the VENUE :

SQUARE is located in the Mont des Arts, a place that today hosts a refined combination of culture, energy, business and leisure. This historical site was once the site of the medieval palace of the Dukes of Brabant and later, under the Habsburgs, a centre of European power where the first Belgian sovereign was sworn in in 1831. However, the good fortune of the Mont des Arts eventually ran out and its affluent streets turned into a poor neighbourhood. Eventually, its houses were demolished and replaced by a park that hosted the World and International Exhibition in 1910. Constantly evolving, the Mont des Arts was redeveloped in 1958 to house the Palais des Congrès as it is today, as well as the Royal Library of Belgium. Located close to the European institutions, the Mont des Arts has finally come full circle and is once again linked to the centre of power in Europe.

Strong points

Parking
  • It is possible to drop a person off near the entrance.
Identification
  • The building is easy to find.

Points of attention

Safety
  • The signage is not adapted and does not make it possible to orient oneself easily.

Outdoor signage is not enough. In addition, the signage inside must be reinforced, otherwise you risk getting lost.

You have to walk a long way to enter the building. 


Most of the rooms are accessible (13,500 m2). However, some levels are accessible via a platform that does not meet the requirements (too small).

The PRM entrance is at the top of the cube. However, there is a private car park in the basement.

Strong points

Parking
  • The reserved parking spaces are properly indicated.
  • The reserved parking spaces are sufficiently big and horizontal.
Access road from the car park
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • There is no step to negotiate.
Entrance
  • The building is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The main entrance is not accessible, but there is a clearly indicated alternative entrance.
  • The opening of the door is automatic.
Horizontal circulation
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • The width of the hallways is sufficient.
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a lift.
  • The lift can be used in autonomy.
Adapted sanitary
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.
  • An adapted toilet is available, well signalled and easy to use.

Some levels are accessible by platforms or numerous steps.

Many long corridors without rest areas - Wheelchair available.

Strong points

Parking
  • The reserved parking spaces are properly indicated.
  • The reserved parking spaces are sufficiently big and horizontal.
Access road from the car park
  • All the transit areas are sufficiently large.
  • The floor is regular and free of obstacles.
  • The floor is hard.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • There is a doorbell at the entrance that allows asking for help.
  • The main entrance is not accessible, but there is a clearly indicated alternative entrance.
Horizontal circulation
  • The width of the hallways is sufficient.
  • Most of the transit areas are sufficiently large.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are equipped with handrails on both sides.
  • The staircases are secure.
  • There is a lift.
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.
Adapted sanitary
  • There is a toilet with grab bars and it is easy to use.
  • The adapted toilet is easy to find.

The main entrance is not accessible to the blind (too dangerous). But there is another entrance.

Very large building, difficult to understand. 

One staircase hinders circulation ) 2M.

Most of the stairs are compensated by lifts, except for some intermediate levels which can be reached by a platform or many steps.

Very complex building.

Strong points

Guide dog
  • Assistance dogs are accepted.
Entrance
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
  • The opening of the door is automatic.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors open to the public.

Points of attention

Access road from the car park
  • The staircases are not secured.
Access road from the street
  • There are no guide-lines.
  • The staircases are not secured.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are dangerous objects in the pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are not secured by warning tiles at their top.

Lack of contrast on the steps at the main entrance

The main entrance is not accessible to visually impaired people (too dangerous). There is an alternative all-glass entrance.

Long corridors, some lack contrast

External lighting

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to identify.
  • The entrance is located in the logical continuation of the pathway.
Vertical circulation
  • A lift serves all the floors.
  • The lighting is sufficient and continuous in the staircases.

Points of attention

Access road from the street
  • The staircases are not secured.
Horizontal circulation
  • There are dangerous objects in the pathway.
  • The lack of contrast between the floor and the walls makes it difficult to circulate.

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • There is a door phone with a video screen.
  • The entrance device us easy to find and use.
  • The staff sees the persons who arrive and can offer assistance.
Home
  • The institution can be contacted in writing: text or email.
Wireless
  • It is possible to connect to the mobile networks, 3G or 4G.
Vertical circulation
  • There is a visual display of the floors in the lift.

Points of attention

Parking
  • There is an access gate to the car park and no staff on hand.
Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.

Strong points

Parking
  • The car park is freely accessible.
Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • There is a door phone with a video screen.
  • The entrance device us easy to find and use.
Light
  • The lighting is sufficient and allows lip reading.

Points of attention

Parking
  • There is an access gate to the car park and no staff on hand.
Magnetic induction loop
  • There is no mobile induction loop.

Very large building, difficult to understand.  Several different rooms

+ Poor acoustics.

Stairs at the entrance are dangerous. 

Strong points

Entrance
  • The entrance is easy to find.
  • The building is easy to find.
  • There is a doorbell near the door.
  • There is a door phone with a video screen.
  • The entrance device us easy to find and use.
Vertical circulation
  • The staircases are equipped with at least one secure handrail.
  • The staircases are secure.
Horizontal circulation
  • The location is calm and well lit.
Adapted sanitary
  • The toilets are easy to find.

Points of attention

Vertical circulation
  • It is difficult to know on which floor one is.
Access-i vous informe sur l'accessibilité de ce lieu, de par les données relevées sur place, à un instant T. Les modifications éventuelles après la visite d'Access-i relèvent de la responsabilité du gestionnaire.