SSL Access, a leading UK specialist in disability lifts, has further helped the University of Edinburgh modernise its ancient seat of learning and improve access for students, visitors and staff with disabilities.

The Joseph Black Building and Paterson’s Land, centres of excellence in chemistry and teacher training respectively, have both been the subjects of work for SSL Access, which has installed a vertical platform lift in each.

At a cost of £20 000 each, the supply and fitting of the SSL A300 lifts will ensure people with disabilities do not have to struggle with the stairs in these buildings and can instead focus their attention on their studies.

The work is part of an ongoing process to continually improve access around the campus and David Casey, design manager for the University of Edinburgh estate, commented: “We have six million square feet of buildings and they are continually being modernised.”

Marc Barry, director at SSL Access, said the firm had completed numerous projects with the university in the past and hoped to complete others in the future.

He added: “There are a lot of different sites on a lot of different levels that make up the campus. The University of Edinburgh has put a huge amount of effort and resource into improving access for people with disabilities and complying with the Disability Discrimination Act.”

The latest work was carried out in September and took a week to complete. Given that many of the buildings on the Edinburgh campus are many years old, Mr Barry said installing lifts often required building warrants to be secured for the work and were sometimes more complicated than those in newly built constructions.

However he said: “By carrying out the work during the holidays, where possible, and completing a small number of jobs at a time, we hope to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Email: karenmaclachlan@blueprintmedia.co.uk