THE LOWER GROUND FLOOR

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Overview

You enter from the forecourt, between pillars before going through the entrance doors.

From the main entrance, in the north side, you pass Reception to your right and the Shop to your left. There's a large display in front of you, in the middle of an open space from which the passage to the Restaurant leaves to the left and that to the Campbell Hunter Education Wing leads right. The RBS Exhibition Gallery is in front of you, beyond the central display.

To Reach

The Main entrance and a path to the pavilion of the Campbell Hunter Education Wing give access to the building at Lower Ground Floor level, whilst a lift and stairs lead from the higher levels at the east and west sides of the central space. We'll call these the East or West Lift and Lower Stairs, as appropriate.

Layout

The Main Entrance

As you move south from the forecourt you go through one of three gaps between pillars, the middle one is opposite the revolving door, which is about five metres from the pillars. An ornate metal gate on the east and west walls of this space can close this entrance.

Beyond each gate is a recess in the wall the top of which is my head height - about 187 cm - beware, keep going forwards. Inside the doors, tactile matting gives way to hard floor after a few metres. The central space is divided into three sections by pairs of pillars supporting vaulted arches below the ceiling.

The First (North) Section

This is the Information Cloakroom and Reception area. Going clockwise from the left-hand east door.

East Side

  entrance to shop

South Side

  two pillars

West Side

  Reception/Inquiry Desk and Cloakroom

North Side

  entrance doors

The Middle Section

This is a clear area with a seat on the east and west walls.

The South Section

Going Clockwise from the Northeast Corner

East Side

  passage leading east towards the Restaurant
blank wall second passage leading east
blank wall

South Side

  RBS Exhibition Gallery
wall juts out north with entrance door to Gallery facing east
wall retreats again
wall juts out for west entrance to gallery
wall retreats again with entrance door facing east

West Side

  gap towards Campbell Hunter Education Wing
blank wall
gap towards Campbell Hunter Education Wing
blank wall

North Wall

  blank wall
wall juts out
gap towards Reception
blank wall, of pillar
middle gap, opposite revolving doors
blank wall, of pillar
east gap towards doors

In the middle of this area is a large display area which occupies the middle of this space. seats to each side, east and west of the display area there is a pillar at each corner of the display area.

The two sections jutting out for doors to the RBS Gallery are opposite pillars of the display area. The display area is also opposite and in line with the centre gap through from the revolving door.

The Passage Towards the Restaurant

North Side

  blank wall
recess with painting, Dr Tom Honeyman
map of Lower Ground Floor
entrance to shop
Penny Press machine
window to the shop, Rennie Mackintosh design

East Side

  wall of Restaurant
entrance to Restaurant
blank wall
pay phone on wall, letter box to right
blank wall
seating on left
fire extinguishers
recess to east lift, call button to right
blank wall

South Side

  cupboard
wall juts out
now going under Lower East Stairs
cupboard
wall juts out with water dispenser
wall to RBS Gallery, slightly set back south

The Lower East Stairs go up south from a point opposite the south entrance of the shop. there's a light strip to each side of the foot of the steps. These are coloured red whilst those beside the Lower West Stairs are coloured blue. Only one strip on each set of steps was lit at the time of our survey.

The Passage Towards the Campbell Hunter Education Wing

South Side:

  cupboard
wall juts out
rear of Lower West Stairs to right (north)
wall retreats
cupboard

West Side

  blank wall
door to west lift, button on left wheelchair height, in box
map of building
water dispenser
entrance to Campbell Hunter Education Wing
blank wall

North Side

  baby change and disabled persons toilet
wall juts out with map of building
recess to toilets
West Side
  blank wall
North Side
  ladies toilets
gents toilets
East Side
  blank. wall

Continuing on north Side

  blank wall
blank recess
gap opposite west door and Reception

The Lower West Stairs are south of the recess to the toilets with a wall to each side of the steps. note that the stairs jut north of these walls with a glass barrier before the steps. There's a strip of blue lights on the floor to either side of the foot of the stairs.

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