Smith Memorial Student Union Physical Access Notes
1825 SW Broadway, Portland, Oregon 97201

The comments on this building are taken in part from the 1991 Access Guide published by the Students with Disabilities Union. We thank them for allowing us to copy their material for this guide. It should be noted that many remodels and improvements have occurred in PSU building in the years since the 1991 Guide. So many of these comments may be some what antiquated. Please bear with us as we update and refine this access tool for our campus. Please send us an e-mail on anything you note that requires correction.

Building Access and Approach:

Sub-Basement:
The sub-basement is accessible by only by Elevator E-7 and stairs. The student radio station and student organizations' offices are located here. The ramp down to the student office area in Room SV3 is steep (greater than 1 in 12) and has poor hand railing.  There are no toilets on this floor.

Basement:
There is a tunnel on the north side from Cramer Hall to Smith Memorial with a slight incline (7/8"/ft.). This is an accessible route, though there is no handrail. On the south side there is another ramp from Neuberger Hall with a very steep grade (1-7/8"/ft). [CAUTION NOTE:  This is a steep grade for any wheelchair, even an electric one.] Alternate accessible routes from Neuberger to Smith include:  1) Take either of the two elevators in Neuberger to the first floor and travel outside via the north entry of Neuberger to the Broadway entry on the east side of Smith, then use one of the elevators in the main hall to descend to the basement; or 2) Take one of the Neuberger elevators to the second floor and cross the skybridge north to Smith, then descend by elevator to the basement. There is another steep ramp on the skybridge, but not as steep as the one in the basement. The second route is a bit long but it is preferable when the weather is bad. A similar but even longer route is to take the bridge from the third floor of Neuberger to the fourth floor of Smith.  Tthere is no ramp and the bridge is enclosed.

First Floor:
The accessible entrances are on the north side (Montgomery Street) and the east (Broadway). The push buttons are difficult to press. The entrances on the west and south have stairs.

Second Floor:
The second floor is accessible by elevator and stairs. There are no bridges to Cramer or Neuberger on this floor.

Third Floor:
There is a bridge from the third floor of Cramer Hall to the second floor of Smith. It is covered but open to the air. It also connects to a bridge -- not covered -- to the Schools of Business Administration and Education, and then to the University Services Building and Parking 2. The south entry provides access to Smith from the second floor of Neuberger, and connects to a bridge to Parking 1 and the Schools of Business Administration and Education. The bridge from Neuberger has a steep ramp as well as stairs. To avoid the ramp, take an elevator to the third floor of Neuberger and cross the bridge to the fourth floor of Smith. Both north and south entrances to Smith on the third  floor are equipped with electric doors activated by push plates. There are vending machines and a low-mounted pencil sharpener just inside the north entry. [CAUTION NOTE: Persons with visual impairments should be aware that these sharpeners are not easily detectable with a cane.]

Fourth Floor:
The fourth floor routes to Smith from both Cramer and Neuberger are the best indoor access between these three buildings because all are enclosed and there are electric doors to all three buildings. The entry to Cramer has a low incline to the ramp without handrails. 

Classrooms and Meeting Rooms:
There is a short flight of steps up to the entrance of Room 203. If an event has been scheduled in that room and access is an issue, contact the Scheduling Office in Smith Memorial Operations, 725-4442, and request that the event be relocated.  

Corridors:
Corridors in Smith Memorial maintain a 36-inch aisle for passage, but movable furniture and planters, and protruding objects such as drinking fountains and pencil sharpeners can present a problem. 

Doors and Hardware:
All rooms but _____ave round doorknobs.  Many door closers have more than 5 pounds of pressure. 

Drinking  Fountains:
All floors except the sub-basement have drinking fountains. [CAUTION NOTE: The main corridor drinking fountains on the second through fourth floors protrude about 18 inches into the path of travel, and persons who use canes should exercise caution along those routes.]

Basement:
The basement fountains have push buttons or levers, and there are no high fountains for persons with bending difficulties. [CAUTION NOTE: Persons with visual impairments should use care around the fountain near the hair salon and game rooms because it projects about 18 inches from the wall.]

First Floor:
The accessible fountain on the first floor is next to the bank of telephones in the east corridor leading from the Broadway entrance. The dining areas in the Parkway Commons have a fountain in both the north and south wings, but they are accessible only to a standing person who can lean over or place a cup under the water stream; the fountains are too high for a person in a wheelchair. Water may be obtained in the main food service area if one requests assistance.

Second Floor:
The accessible fountain is near Room 203. The fountains near the men's room at the south end of the main corridor, and on the first floor mezzanine in Library East near Room M106, have handles that require twisting.

Third Floor:
Two fountains on the third floor and one on the third floor mezzanine in Library East have handles that require twisting, and the push button is missing on the fountain at the south end of the main corridor of Smith Memorial near the men's room. Otherwise, users in wheelchairs report that they are easy to use.

Fourth Floor:
There are two accessible fountains, one each at the north and south ends of the main corridor near the restrooms.

Elevators:
Each elevator has a unique number centered on the door frame at every landing.

There are two elevators, E-6 ad E-7, which provide access to the four main floors of Smith. They are located toward the south end of the main corridor. These elevators are accessible, although the emergency phone microphone and button are difficult to reach from a wheelchair. An additional elevator on the east side of the building, elevator number E-9, near the Information and Academic Support Center (IASC), provides access to Smith Memorial East -- also known as Library East -- including the audiovisual lab and graduate computer lab in the basement, and the mezzanines on the first, second and third floors. Telecommunications is located on the first floor mezzanine, and Counseling and Psychological Services on the third floor mezzanine. The buttons, signals, signage, and emergency phone system in this elevator are too high for people who use a wheelchair and not accessible to persons with visual impairments. The car is slightly smaller than code requires, but an electric chair can fit into the space.

Offices:

Resources:
At the Student Resource Center in Room 115, at the north end of the main corridor on the first floor, one may find a courtesy phone. It is somewhat high to reach. However, one may use the telephone on the desk, or have the person on staff place calls if requested. Also, if personal assistance is needed (for example, taking off a rain coat), the person on staff will be happy to help. The Student Resource Center provides information relating to housing, Tri-Met buses and train, PSU maps, travel, For Sale boards, a copy of the daily Oregonian, and a place to relax.

The Students with Disabilities Union (SDU) is located in Room 440, near Student Development.

Restrooms: 
There are no restrooms in the sub-basement. The closest accessible restrooms are on the first floor. There are non-accessible restrooms on the basement level. The first through fourth floor restrooms are accessible, with adequate room to maneuver, accessible stalls with grab bars, sinks, and for the most part, accessible soap and towel dispensers. The restrooms in the basement near the Nordic Room (women's) and near the game rooms (men's) do not have accessible stalls (not wide enough, no grab bars, etc.). The men's room interior is obstructed near the door by a partition wall, which makes the room impossible to enter for an electric wheelchair. Restrooms in Smith Memorial East (Library East) are partially accessible: they have adequate room to maneuver, and one narrow grab bar in each accessible stall. [CAUTION NOTE: Persons with visual impairments should be aware that there is a "trapeze" grab bar hanging from the ceiling in the women's restroom in Smith Memorial East.] Note: These restrooms are not available at all times, because the doors to this portion of the building (the northeast quarter of Smith) are locked during evenings and weekends.

Special Services:
Detailed information about services in Smith Memorial is available from the IASC in Room 120 on the first floor.

Dining:
There is a coffee counter on the north side of the Parkway Commons which is accessible.

The Parkway Commons is located on the ground floor west. Various vendors sell a variety of ethnic foods. Fruit, drinks and snacks are available. There is room to maneuver in a wheelchair, although some items are beyond reach for a person in a chair. The north and south dining areas have upper levels that are accessible by inadequate ramps which are difficult to negotiate, or by three steps with hand rails. [CAUTION NOTE: The ramp in the north dining area is hazardous for persons with vision impairments because it has an irregular wall with planters with plants that project into the route of travel.] A performance stage in the north dining area is accessible by steps and projects into the room. [CAUTION NOTE: Because of the projecting stage, persons with visual impairments and a cane should exercise caution in negotiating the north dining area.]

The Subway, on the ground floor east, specializes in made-to-order deli sandwiches. This area needs to be evaluated for accessibility. It is not known whether a wheelchair can negotiate the maze of this area.

Basement:
Hair Salon: The Co-Head Styling Salon in Room 61 has a round doorknob. [CAUTION NOTE: Persons who have visual impairments should use caution near a barber pole located at about six feet above the floor near the entrance to the men's restroom next door.] The phone number is 725-4591.

Television Lounge: The door to the television lounge in Room 28, near the Nordic Room, has a round knob. The television set is too high for a short person or a person in a wheelchair to manipulate its controls.

The Nordic Room: Room 26 has a quiet, spacious area that is good for studying and eating lunch. There is an upper level accessible by two steps.

Bowling Alley: There is a ramp with a moderate incline and no handrails to the lanes in Room 38. The Students with Disabilities will gladly load a bowling rail to any person with need.

Portland Teachers Credit Union: This area, Room 1, has accessible ATMs inside as well as one out in the hall. The counters inside are too high for a person in a wheelchair.

Other Services: 
Automated Teller Machine: There are two ATMs in Smith Memorial -- on the first floor outside the Subway, facing the IASC (Room 120 in the east corridor near the Broadway entrance), and in the basement outside the Portland Teachers Credit Union, Room 1.

Counseling and Psychological and Testing Services: These offices are located on the second floor mezzanine of Library East and are accessible only by stairs or by elevator E-9 near the IASC. See the comments above regarding elevators.

University Market: This campus store on the first floor, sells snacks, drinks, magazines, cards, PSU shirts, and student materials.

Vending Machines: There are vending machines near the Broadway entrance on the first floor, in the basement with a microwave near the game rooms, and on the third floor near the north exit to Cramer.

There are also two information machines outside the IASC, in the narrow corridor facing the bank of telephones -- a Tri-Met Trip Planning machine for information about bus and rapid transit rail service, and an Oregon Employment Department machine for state job information. 

Stairs and Handrails: 

Telephones:
There are phone banks throughout the building. They have volume controls and push buttons. At least one low phone is located near the IASC in Room 120 and in the basement. 

Other:
There is a delivery truck Loading Zone on Broadway between Smith Memorial and Neuberger Hall. Anyone using a wheelchair should avoid this area because trucks often back into it. If it is necessary to gain access to the campus from a vehicle on Broadway, you should arrange for drop-off and pick-up at the special disability loading spaces between Cramer and Lincoln, or Neuberger and Shattuck. Vehicles cannot be left at these locations, but they provide easy access.

Located in the Information & Academic Support Center (IASC)
Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 118
1825 SW Broadway
Portland, Oregon 97202-0751

DRC Office - (503) 725-4150
Reader Services- (503) 725-4153
Interpreter Services - (503) 725-5202
TTY - (503) 725-6504
FAX - (503) 725-5438
E-mail - drc@pdx.edu
Web Site - http://www.ess.pdx.edu/iasc/drc/