Spaces

Location: On the main floor of the Dana Porter Library, room 251. Located at the back of the main lobby, to the right.

Hours: The ATC is open during the regular hours of the library. Office hours are offered during business hours through the week.

The Adaptive Technology Centre (ATC) is a welcoming Quiet Zone within the Dana Porter Library, dedicated and open to all with accessibility needs. If you believe that you could benefit from using the space, you are welcome to do so. Disability disclosure is not required.

However, some features and amenities of the ATC do require a one-time permission, granted by LAS staff, to be added to your library account. Permission is required for the following services: term-use lockers, and assistive technology available to borrow. To receive this one-time permission, introduce yourself to LAS staff in-person during ATC office hours or via the LAS introduction form, providing your name and student number. 

When you come to the ATC, you can expect:

• a quiet, scent-free, sensory-friendly common area. Please be respectful of all users using the space
• 6 workstations, each equipped with:
  • height adjustable desks
  • large format monitors with HDMI and USB-C cables to plug PC or Mac laptops
• 2 PCs with headphones, large format keyboards, and loaded with ZoomText, Equatio, and Kurzweil 3000 assistive software
  • See the Assistive software section of the Resources page for more information on these software
• 2 study rooms
  • See below for the list of all amenities available within the study rooms
• 12 term-use lockers
  • Available on a first-come, first-served basis. Keys are checked out at the Dana Porter Library Help Desk
• “The Rest Stop” AKA most comfortable chair on campus
• A Merlin HD OCR video magnifier
  • Tutorial: Merlin Elite Instructional Video (YouTube video)

At the Library Help Desks at Dana Porter, Davis Centre, and Musagetes Libraries, there are more assistive devices available to borrow with your WatID and use within the library. Visit our Assistive Devices page to learn more.

The ATC is a Quiet Zone, meaning it is a noise-free space. Headphones must be worn if listening to music, videos, or text-to-speech services. Cellphones must be silenced and calls must be taken outside of the space.

The ATC is a scent-free space. This prohibits the wearing of strong perfumes, and the eating of hot food within the space. The ATC is located near the dining area for Browser's Cafe, where hot food can be enjoyed. Snacks and drinks are welcome within the ATC.

Change of Policy

As of October 30, 2025, the ATC study rooms will require permission from LAS in order to be used. Disclosure of disability will not be required, but users must contact and meet with the Library Accessibility Specialist in order to gain permission to use the study rooms. The study rooms will be locked, and the key to access must be borrowed from the Dana Porter Help Desk. Only those with permission will be able to borrow the keys. 

• Study room keys are only available while the Library Help Desk is staffed.
• Study rooms are for Quiet, Individual study only. Loud, disruptive noise or more than one person per room will result in permission being revoked.
• The user is responsible for returning the key to the Help Desk when their booking is complete.
• The user is responsible for ensuring that the study room is clean and returned to the condition they found it. Failure to do so may result in permissions being revoked.

The ATC study rooms are intended for use by those requiring accessibility supports. You must book your use at the link below. Contact the LAS staff if you have any questions.

Study Room Description

To book a study room in the Adaptive Technology Centre (ATC), visit the ATC study room bookings page. 

Within the ATC, there are 2 study rooms for students to book, Study Room A and Study Room B.

The maximum booking time for these rooms is 4 hours per day, per person. These hours do not need to be sequential.

The study rooms are designed for individual, quiet study. They are not soundproof.

Our study rooms are equipped with:

• adjustable tables and ergonomic chairs
• adjustable lighting
• whiteboards
• flatbed scanners
• desk fan and lamp
• PC computers featuring:
  • large format monitors, outfitted with HDMI and USB-C cables to plug in PC or Mac laptops
  • webcam
  • Fusion (combination of Job Access With Speech (JAWS) Computer Screen Reader and ZoomText Screen Magnifier), Dragon Naturally Speaking, Equatio, and Kurzweil 3000 assistive software loaded
    • See the Assistive software section of the Resources page for more information on these software

For more information, please refer to the Dana Porter clickable floor plans.

There are five accessible parking spaces near Dana Porter. When facing the front of the library, they are located along the west/left side of the building.

The front entrance is wheelchair accessible, with a ramp and automatic doors.

There are two wheelchair accessible elevators located on the main floor. When entering the building, they are to the left side of the lobby.

There are wheelchair accessible washrooms located on the first floor (one floor down from the main floor) and third floor (one floor up from the main floor). the third floor washrooms are non-gendered, and have door-opening buttons. 

Safety phones are located on floors 6 to 10, on the wall to the left of the main elevator doors.

Lifting the handset will automatically connect you to the University Special Constable Service during an alarm, and circulation services otherwise.

For non-emergency phone calls, please ask the staff at the circulation desk to assist you.

In this Library:

• Adaptive Technology Centre
• Variety of assistive devices available at the circulation desk
• Automatic water station on the 3rd floor, located from the elevators straight forward and then to the left.
• Study room 3A (room 317C) has a large format monitor, with HDMI cable to plug in a PC.
• A Merlin HD OCR video magnifier outside of study room 3A (room 317C) on the third floor
  • Tutorial: Merlin Elite Instructional Video (YouTube video)
• A treadmill desk workstation and an exercise bike desk workstation, near study room 3A (room 317C) on the third floor. From the elevators, turn to the left. 
• Electronically adjustable workstations:
  • One across from the circulation desk, on the main floor (with a computer available)
  • One on the third floor (with a computer available) beside the Reading Room, straight forward from the elevators and to the right
  • Five on the sixth floor, in northwest corner of the floor. From the elevators, turn left, then left to the corner of the building.
• Floor 7 has the Reflection Space, which is a carpeted room, with mats and cushions, meant to reflect, pray, relax, or de-stress. From the elevators, it is straight ahead, and slightly to the left.

Note: elevators cannot be used once a fire alarm is triggered.

Floors 6 to 10 are not monitored by fire wardens. We strongly recommend that anyone who requires assistance during emergency evacuation be accompanied while using these floors.

If you require assistance to evacuate the building, you or your companion should use the safety phones, on floors 6 to 10, which will automatically connect to the University Special Constable Service during an alarm. Be sure to identify the floor you are on and the stairwell you are closest to.

• Main floor (second floor), main entrance. This exit has a ramp.
• Main floor, to the right side of the main lobby side, through reference bookshelves. This exit has no ramp. 
• First floor
  • via stairwell A. From the elevators, straight ahead through two sets of doors. This exit has no ramp. 
  • via stairwell B. From the elevators, turn left, then immediately left again, through two sets of doors. This exit has a ramp.

For more information, please refer to the Davis Centre clickable floor plans.

There are four accessible parking spaces, located between the Davis Centre and Chemistry 2 Buildings, which are accessible by the Science Roadway.

There are two accessible parking spaces at the Davis Centre's north entrance, which are accessible by the Math Roadway.

Entrances to the Davis Centre and the library are wheelchair accessible.

There is one wheelchair accessible elevator, located on the main floor, opposite the circulation desk.

There are wheelchair accessible washrooms on the first floor. They have push-bar automatic openers.

In this library:

• Variety of assistive devices available at the circulation desk
• Two electronically adjustable workstations with computers in the RBC Information Commons, at the end of the first row
• Study room E (Stabler Insurance study room) is fully accessible with an automatic door opener and an adjustable table

Note: elevators cannot be used once a fire alarm is triggered.

The basement floor is not monitored by fire wardens. We strongly recommend that anyone who requires assistance during emergency evacuation be accompanied while using this floor.

• Main floor, main entrance. This exit leads to the Davis Centre
• Main floor, in the corner near Study Room N
• Main floor, in the opposite corner, near the silent study area
• Both of the above emergency exits lead to a steep, grassy hill

For more information, please refer to the Musagetes clickable floor plans.

There are two accessible parking spaces in the School of Architecture parking lot. They are located at the entrance to the parking lot to the right of the School of Architecture building, at the intersection of Melville Street South and River Street.

All first-floor entrances to the School of Architecture building are wheelchair accessible, with flat entry.

All entrances are security controlled and require WatCard access. Guests without WatCard access can enter the building from the Melville Street South entrance with the assistance of security personnel stationed there.

To move from the Architecture building to the Melville Cafe or the Riverside Gallery, push the big red button on the wall to unlock the door. To reenter the Architecture building requires WatCard access, or walk around the outside of the building back to the Melville Street South entrance to the security entrance.

Inside the Architecture building, there is one wheelchair accessible elevator, located on the first floor. When entering the building from the Melville Street South entrance, it is on the right.

There are wheelchair accessible washrooms on each floor of the Architecture building. There is one wheelchair accessible washroom in Musagetes Architecture Library, located past the circulation desk, on the left.

Note: The outer doors to enter the washrooms do not have automatic door opening buttons.

In this library:

• Elder Lodge study room which can be booked by anyone to use through the Library website. The Elder Lodge includes:
  • electrical plugs 
  • white board
• Variety of assistive devices available at the circulation desk
• Tables with electrical plugs for group or individual work are available throughout the library
• Mobile flat screen TV with laptop connections available for use in the Library Seminar Space

Note: elevator cannot be used once a fire alarm is triggered.

Anyone who requires assistance during an emergency evacuation should come to the circulation desk.

There is a single entrance and exit to Musagetes, aligned with the circulation desk.

There are two fire exits in Musagetes Architecture Library: 

• An alarmed door to an interior staircase to the right of the circulation desk, and an alarmed door to an external staircase
• A ladder combination to the left of the Elder Lodge, in the rear portion of the library 
  • The exit to the fire escape ladder has a small staircase up to reach the emergency exit door, and requires the user to pull a lever handle to release the ladder to the ground

For more information, please refer to the WLRC floor plans, located in the Optometry building, on the first floor on the wall by the elevator or the second floor on the wall by WLRC entrance.

There are 4 accessible parking spaces. They are located in front of the first-floor entrance to Optometry (under large eye chart window).

The first-floor entrance of the Optometry building is wheelchair accessible, with flat entry.

Inside the Optometry building, there is one wheelchair accessible elevator, located on the first floor. When entering the building from the first-floor entrance, it is on the right.

There are wheelchair accessible washrooms on the first floor of the Optometry building and the second floor of the Optometry building, across from WLRC.

In this library:

• Two height-adjustable workstations with computers
• Headsets
• Flatbed scanner
• Group study rooms with computers and laptop plug in, which could be booked by persons with disabilities, if extra room or assistive device-use is required

Note: elevators cannot be used once a fire alarm is triggered.

The WLRC is monitored by fire wardens. Anyone who requires assistance during an emergency evacuation should come to the circulation desk.

The WLRC is situated on the second floor, in room 2101. Upon entering the WLRC through the double doors of the main entrance, visitors will find:

• A book drop bin for after-hours returns
• Printers and a reference desk directly ahead
• Three large study rooms to the right
• An additional exit at the far end of the study rooms, overlooking Columbia Street W