Directional Description to ARCH

55 University Avenue, 15th Floor

Layout and Features of St. Andrew Station

The subway platform of St Andrew station is a centre platform and has two staircases, two escalators, and one elevator. One set of stairs and escalators are located adjacent to each other towards the north end of the platform with a second set located towards the south end of the platform. The escalator at the north end of the platform comes down from the fares concourse level (where ticket collector booths are located), while the escalator at the south end of the platform goes up to the fares concourse level. The accessible elevator is located in the centre of the platform between the two sets of stairs. There are also tactile wayfinding strips along the floor of the platform. These wayfinding strips can be used to locate each stairs, escalator and accessible elevator.

Navigation from St. Andrew Station to 55 University Avenue entrance

1. a) From the northern stairs:
At the top of these stairs, you will be facing south and the doors of the accessible elevator, which is in the centre of the room. Flanked on either side of the accessible elevator are the turnstiles to exit. Walk forward slightly to the left to use the turnstiles on the left side of the room. Upon going through the turnstiles, turn 90 degrees to the left and travel a short distance to reach several manual doors that lead to the Sun Life Financial building.

b) From the accessible elevator:
Upon exiting the elevator, you will be facing north. As you exit the elevator make a U-turn to the right to exit the turnstiles adjacent to the elevator. Upon going through the turnstiles, turn 90 degrees to the left and travel a short distance to reach several manual doors that lead to the Sun Life Financial building.

c) From the southern stairs and escalator:
At the top of the stairs and escalator, continue forward to locate the turnstiles. Go through the turnstiles, turn 90 degrees to the right and travel a short distance to reach several manual doors that lead to the Sun Life Financial building.

2. Along the path to this junction at the Sun Life Financial building, useful landmarks are the Gateway Newsstand (which has brighter lighting and colourful displays), a small bench, and a Presto machine. At this junction, the hallway will split into two. There will be stairs going up on the left to the northeast corner of University and King and a ramp with a slight incline (sloping upwards) on the right.

3. Turn 90 degrees to the right and walk forward up the ramped hallway. At the end of the hallway, there will be several push doors, with an automatic door open button on the wall on the right adjacent to the doors.

4. There will be a second set of doors and another hallway on the right. The doors lead to the food court of 145 King and the hallway on the right leads to the accessible elevator.

a) From accessible elevator:
Turn right and walk down the hallway, the elevator doors will be on the left at the end of the hall. The elevator can be used to get to the street level (level 1), the food court (level 2) and the fares concourse level (level 3, the current level). Take the elevator to street level and exit the elevator. As you exit the elevator, be cautious of a down-staircase that is on the immediate right. Walk a few paces forward and turn 90 degrees to the left to find two sets of doors to exit to the street. There are automatic door open buttons on the left of the doors.

b) From doors to food court:
Continue forward through the doors (push doors). There will be a small up-staircase with 3 steps. Once inside the food court, trail along the wall on the right side to reach another staircase to go up to street level. Along the wall, there are tables and chairs in a recessed section just before the stairs. The staircase is an “L” shape stairs with a middle landing. At the top of the stairs, there are two sets of double doors to exit to the street. There are automatic door open buttons on the left of the doors.

5. Upon exiting the building, you will be facing north with King Street in front and University Avenue to the left. Turn 90 degrees to the left and walk a few feet until the end of the building. The structure is mostly glass and is an extension of the 145 King St building.

6. At the end of the building, turn 90 degrees to the left and walk forward (to the south) about two-thirds down the block towards Wellington Street. The wall of this building can be used to trail to help with keeping straight, however, there are a few jutting walls.

7. At the end of this wall, there is a recessed up-staircase. Continue travelling straight a short distance past this staircase. After the stairs, there is a glass wall on the left which can be used to trail. There may be a few obstacles along this wall so caution should be used when trailing this wall.

8. Upon reaching the end of the glass wall there is another recessed up-staircase and a down-staircase. Continue travelling forward approximately 100 feet to reach 55 University Avenue. A landmark to look out for is a stone wall planter about 4-5 feet high that is adjacent to the building. There is also a Starbucks coffee shop north of the entrance of 55 University Ave.

Additional Notes:
At the time of these written instructions, there is ongoing city work being done on the sidewalk of University Avenue between King Street and Wellington Street. The duration of this work is not known. A part of the sidewalk is sectioned off with a metal fence, however, is still safely traversable.

Navigating from 55 University Avenue entrance to 15th floor Reception

The main entrance of 55 University Avenue includes a single revolving door flanked by single doors on both sides. The door on the right has an automatic door open button which is located slightly to the right of a security panel. Inside, the lobby is a large square room with the security desk up against the corner of the room on the left side located just before the elevator bank.

1. Upon entering 55 University Avenue, there will be a small area rug that runs the width of the doors. Travel forward straight ahead to reach the elevator bank. If using the accessible door, travel forward and slightly to the left.

2. At the elevator bank, there are two elevator call panels along the wall on the left side (north wall). Try to keep track of whether you are using elevators along the north wall (which has the call panels) or the elevators on the south wall (no panels). The elevators will make an audible sound when the doors open to help locate the elevator cab. Upon entering the elevator cab, the button panel is available on the left and right sides adjacent to the elevator door.

3. Locate the 15th floor button which is the second row, first column button. The buttons also have Braille and raised print adjacent to each button. Take the elevator to the 15th floor. Outside each elevator cab, there is raised print and Braille labels on a small wall adjacent to the elevator to indicate the floor level about 5 feet from the floor.

a) If you used an elevator along the north wall:
After exiting the elevator cab on the 15th floor, turn 90 degrees to the right and walk forward to reach a double door with a horizontal lever.

b) If you used an elevator along the south wall:
After exiting the elevator cab on the 15th floor, turn 90 degrees to the left and walk forward to reach a double door with a horizontal lever.

4. Upon entering, the reception desk will be straight ahead, slightly to the right.

Additional notes:
To return to the main lobby of the building, make sure to use the button for the ground floor labeled with a raised G and star as there is another button for floor 1 which is not the lobby.

Navigation from 55 University Avenue parking lot to 15th floor reception

There are two accessible parking spaces at the entryway of the parking lot for 55 University Avenue, adjacent to the parking gates. There is an elevator nearby these parking gates towards the entryway of the parking lot. This elevator connects the parking levels to the ground floor lobby.

1. Walk towards the parking gates near the entryway of the underground parking. There is a single door with an automatic door open button on the wall to the right of the door to get access to the elevator. The elevator will be on the right side as you enter the room.

2. Take this elevator to the ground floor. Exit the elevator and turn 90 degrees to the right and walk forward to reach an intersecting hallway on the right. This hallway leads to the main elevator bank.

3. At the elevator bank, there are two elevator call panels along the (north) wall on the right side. Try to keep track of whether you are using elevators along the north wall (which has the call panels) or the elevators on the south wall (no panels). The elevators will make an audible sound when the doors open to help locate the elevator cab. Upon entering the elevator cab, the button panel is available on the left and right sides adjacent to the elevator door.

4. Locate the 15th floor button which is the second row, first column button. The buttons also have Braille and raised print adjacent to each button. Take the elevator to the 15th floor. Outside each elevator cab, there is raised print and Braille labels on a small wall adjacent to the elevator to indicate the floor level about 5 feet from the floor.

a) If you used an elevator along the north wall:
After exiting the elevator cab on the 15th floor, turn 90 degrees to the right and walk forward to reach a double door with a horizontal lever.

b) If you used an elevator along the south wall:
After exiting the elevator cab on the 15th floor, turn 90 degrees to the left and walk forward to reach a double door with a horizontal lever.

5. Upon entering, the reception desk will be straight ahead, slightly to the right.