Visitor Accessibility at Grinnell College
Outdoor class in Kington Plaza

Category: Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC)

JRC 209 Multicultural Suites

By

On August 12, 2025

In Dining Space, Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC), Presentation Space, Social Space

Entrance

Elevators are located to the left side of the Information Desk on the first floor. JRC 209 Multicultural Suites are on the second floor to the left as you exit the elevator.

View upon exiting 2nd floor elevator and turning left (south). Door to JRC 209-B is the wooden interior door, to the left (east) of the glass doors that exit to a 2nd floor patio (almost always locked).

View upon exiting 2nd floor elevator and turning left (south). Door to JRC 209-B is the wooden interior door, to the left (east) of the glass doors that exit to a 2nd floor patio (almost always locked).

The most used suite is JRC 209-B Classroom, the first door on your right as you enter the hallway.

The door is manual: pull level door handle to enter and push bar to exit.

Moving Clockwise Around the Room

The layout of the room may be changed but usually the desks (28.5” height) with rolling office chairs (adjustable height) are stacked in the middle with clear access to move around the room. On the entrance to your left there are counters (35.5” height) with cabinets at the bottom and top; moving along clockwise there are two more doors that exit to the hallway, the first one has a pull lever bar and the second one a push bar. In front there are white boards and a projector screen in front of two large windows. Continuing clockwise, to your right there are four large windows that could be covered by blackout roller blinds. Then, there is a trash bin by the column 15″ from the wall followed by an emergency lock-down button.

**Please note that the desks and tables can be moved around**

Sensory

Floor: Carpeted gray/neutral floor, very short looped smooth carpet.

Walls: White painted walls.

Lighting: There are windows that could allow sunlight and overhead lamps of pastel yellow color.

Sound: There is no noticeable echo in the room.

Smell: There is no distinct smell in the room. 

JRC Marketplace Dining Hall

By

On February 19, 2025

In Dining Space, Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC)

The entrance to the Marketplace Dining Hall is in front of you and slightly to the left if you are facing north in the main lobby area of the JRC. The entrance doors are propped open when the dining hall is open for serving.

There are no arms on the dining hall chairs.

There is an exit door inside the dining hall that leads to the JRC courtyard area. This door does not have an automatic door open and is opened by pushing the long bar across the middle of the door. Pictures below.

 

The staff at the Reunion Check-in desk ready to welcome alums home!

Lobby JRC Reunion Check-In

By

On January 18, 2025

In Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC), Social Space

Information on the lobby set-up will be posted here.

The Grinnell College Archives crowdsourcing photo table is located just inside the entrance doors to the main lobby of the JRC. (Photo by Justin Hayworth/Grinnell College)

Reunion guests in the JRC lobby on their way to the check-in desk, which is across from Spencer Grill.

Reunion guests in the JRC lobby on their way to the check-in desk, which is across from Spencer Grill. (Photo by Justin Hayworth/Grinnell College)

Alums at the Reunion Check-in desk, where they receive their namebadges, keys if they are staying on campus, and pre-ordered memento items. (Photo by Justin Hayworth/Grinnell College)

Alums at the Reunion Check-in desk, where they receive their namebadges, keys if they are staying on campus, and pre-ordered memento items. (Photo by Justin Hayworth/Grinnell College)

Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC) Courtyard

By

On January 15, 2025

In Dining Space, Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC), Outdoor Space, Social Space

Tucked in a westward facing U of the Joe Rosenfield Center, near Younker Grove, is the fully paved JRC courtyard. The courtyard can be approached from various paved sidewalks, as well as from within the Marketplace Dining Hall.

Saturday night’s All-Reunion Dinner is served from this courtyard.

The accessible entrances to the buffet are from the 8th Avenue side of the JRC through the doors by JRC 101, or from Mac Field.

The accessible exits from the buffet are either of those – one may turn left from the buffet to exit through the JRC, or turn right to exit towards Mac Field. An attendant will be waiting by the stanchion to let people through to the JRC exit.

Accessible seating is available inside Spencer Grill in the JRC, or on Kington Plaza.

Accessible routes are marked by the blue-dashed lines on the diagram below.

Diagram of All-Reunion Dinner in a view of JRC and the courtyard

 

An aerial view of JRC 101, the largest conference space in the Rosenfield Campus Center.

JRC 101

By

On January 14, 2025

In Dining Space, Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC), Presentation Space

Entrance

The doors are propped open before an event begins and often one remains open for late arrivals.

There are no automatic door openers to JRC 101. Between the two doors there is dividers between the door.

Moving Clockwise Around the Room

** The layout of the room can change depending on what event is being hosted in there**

Sensory

Floor: The flooring is wooden.

Walls: The walls are wood paneling

Lighting: 

  • Daytime: There are large rectangular windows that provide lots of sunlight into the room. The windows have two sets of shades (slightly dim and full blackout)
  • Nighttime: There are wall and overhead lights that are a soft yellowish hue.

Sound: When the space is empty there is a dull humming sound of air vents and other machinery. During a presentation when the microphone is being used, the sound doesn’t echo as much but if there are multiple conversations happening at once the sound can reverberate throughout the room. 

** Sound echoes in this space**

** This space has a hearing loop**

Smell: This room can have food smells emanating from nearby Spencer Grill and the Dining Hall Marketplace.

A Reunion presentation in JRC 101 with audience-style seating.

A Reunion presentation in JRC 101 with audience-style seating.

A class meal in JRC 101 during Reunion.

A class meal in JRC 101 during Reunion.

A birds-eye view of a townhall meeting in JRC 101.

A birds-eye view of a townhall meeting in JRC 101.

Spencer Grill JRC

By

On January 14, 2025

In Dining Space, Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC)

Entrance 

The Grill has many tables and chairs. The chairs are hard surfaces and do not have any armrests, and the accompanying tables are 3 x 3 x 21/2. 

Moving Clockwise Around the Room

Moving towards the center of the room is the station where the Grill operates from, this counter is 15 inches wide and 3 feet long. The height of the counter is 2 feet and 9 3/4 inches. Near the counter are two long blue carpets, indicating spaces from which to order and pick up food.

Grill counter height: about 2 feet and 9 3/4 inches from floor to top of counter

Grill counter height: about 2 feet and 9 3/4 inches from floor to top of counter

Opposite the smooth stone counter, there are shorter soft surface couches with armrests accompanied by short hard surface tables. 

Moving to the left end of the room, there are more study-style tables and chairs, having the same dimensions as those ones the left side of the room. There are also low couches similar to those near the center of the room towards the right exit/entry of the Grill. 

There are two water drinking stations and one water bottle filling station. One of the drinking stations is about 41 in tall and the other is 32in. 

Sensory 

Floor: The flooring is reflective shiny wooden floors that create sound on impact such as dragging shoes and chairs.

Walls: The walls that have the clocks on them are painted white and the ones that back the grill are also painted white. The walls facing the e-mail lounge (Reunion check-in area) are a wood paneling and the other wall is natural red/brown brick The north wall is floor-to-ceiling glass-paned windows.

Lighting: Due to the windows, the light is mostly natural during the day and at other times the overhead lights are white and bright. However, at all times, the lights are turned on.

Sound: The space is generally quiet with the dull humming sound of air vents and other machinery. It is useful to note that during times of operation, there will be loud sounds of the smoothie machines, coffee machines, and people talking. 

Smell: There are no noticeable smells but during functioning times of the Spencer Grill, there will be general smells of coffee, food, etc.

Reunion Reception in Laurel Leaf Lounge

Laurel Leaf Lounge JRC

By

On January 14, 2025

In Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC), Social Space

Entrance

From the entrance facing 8th Avenue which leads most directly to Reunion Check-In, the Reunion Help Desk, the Marketplace Dining Hall, and the Game Room, there is a curved wall to your left as you enter (to the west). There is a break in this wall that is the entrance to Laurel Leaf Lounge. The entrance is wide with no doors.

Moving Clockwise Around the Room

After entering, towards your left there is a curved outward non-functioning fireplace made of black stone that is 18 inches tall. Moving along, there are two alcoves in the wall.

In the first alcove after moving clockwise from the fireplace, there is a reflective art piece on the wall of bison. Here there are also two big soft-surface chairs with side cushions functioning as low-support armrests. There is a table between these two soft surface couches that is 3 feet x 16 inches. 

The second alcove in the wall has a couch running along it similar to the soft-surface couches along the right wall of the room. Here there are also 3 round tables of 2 feet diameter each and three hard surface chairs 29 inches tall each.

Next, moving clockwise there are four round tables of 2 feet in diameter along the curved couch that follows the curve of the wall on the right. These hard-surface tables are also accompanied by 4 chairs around 29 inches tall with no arms. There are also 2 separate hard surface chairs with a curved back support and armrests. Finishing out the clockwise view of the room next to the entrance/exit there are two trash cans, one of which is for recycling.   

At the center of the room, there are 4 soft surface low couches facing each other, these are similar to the couches mentioned above with side cushions acting as low support armrests. There is a table in the middle of the couches that is 1.5 feet long, 3 feet wide, and 17 inches tall with three tables on the sides of 2 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet dimensions. 

**Please note that the circular tables in front of the curved couch and the furniture in the center of the room can be moved around**

View of Laurel Leaf Lounge with President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus George Drake '56 joining a student study group

President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus George Drake ’56 joins a student study group in the Laurel Leaf Lounge

Sensory

Floor: The flooring of the laurel leaf lounge is flat, reddish-brown carpet.

Walls: The walls are smooth wood paneling.  

Lighting: Most of the light comes from overhead skylights and small, square windows that are on the sides of the room. There is a large circular chandelier that provides a yellow toned light along with yellow toned lights within the alcoves.

** Sound echoes in this space**

Sound:  When the space is empty there is a dull humming sound of air vents and other machinery. Additionally, since there are no doors if there is any noise that occurs in the lobby of the JRC, the sound will echo into the space. Additionally, when the room is in use, the sound can echo and reverberate the room.

Smell: There are no noticeable smells but during functioning times of the dining hall, food smells can be expected. 

1st Floor Accessible Bathrooms JRC

By

On January 14, 2025

In Bathrooms, Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC)

Spencer Grill Bathrooms:

There are restrooms opposite to the Spencer Grill along the left wall of the JRC corridor. 

Accessible Bathrooms:

Between the two gendered restrooms, located on your left and right, there are accessible bathrooms with a wave-to-open door opener on either side of the fire extinguisher. These restrooms can be easy to miss as there is no signage to indicate they are accessible bathrooms! They do not have changing tables for small children.

  • Sink: separate knobs for hot and cold water, the knobs must be rotated towards you to turn on and pushed away to turn off. Note that in both accessible bathrooms, the sink is located right next to the door, which opens in, so after washing your hands, you must move back in order to press the exit button and allow the door to open.
  • Paper towel dispenser: automatic, 4 feet 4 inches off the ground above a trashcan next to the sink.
  • Toilet: about 3 feet from the door.

Gendered Bathrooms:

The two gendered bathrooms have a push-to-open automatic door opener. Inside, both gendered restrooms have changing tables for small children and no accessibility stalls.

  • Sink: The faucet knob is a short rectangle.
  • Paper towel dispensers are 4 feet 4 inches off the ground above a trashcan next to the sink.

Dining Hall Bathrooms:

These bathroom have 2 accessible stalls.  

When entering the JRC from the entrance off of 8th near the Game Room, pass the information desk and the backpack cubbies, to the left there is a corridor that will lead you to two gendered multi-stall bathrooms. You can access the bathrooms by push-button located to right of the bathroom doors for the men’s bathroom and the push button is on the left of the door for the women’s. 

 

Entrances & Exits JRC

By

On January 14, 2025

In Entrances & Exits, Joe Rosenfield Center (JRC)

Entrance 1, 8th Avenue east end of building:

If coming up the ramp on the right-hand side of the JRC by Parking Lot M, there is an entrance to the mailroom that is accessible through an automatic wall mounted button located on the right side of the door. This entrance will also lead you to the main lobby.

view from the bottom of the ramp if standing near parking lot M

View from the bottom of the ramp if standing near parking lot M

The view of the doors leading into the mailroom. The right most door is the one that opens with the push button door opener.

The view of the doors leading into the mailroom. The right-most door is the one that opens with the push button door opener.

The grey square with the faded blue print stating push to open is the push button door opener.

The grey square with the faded blue print stating push to open is the push button door opener.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you continue up the ramp and past the mailroom door, there is a set of double doors leading to the main lobby that are accessible through a wall mounted automatic push button on the right side of the door.   

The automatic door opener for the set of doors is located to the right of the set of doors and is a silver/grey rectangular button with completely faded wording. The button is located directly under the P-card reader.

The left-most door is the one that is controlled by the automatic door opener. The automatic door opener opens both sets of doors to a delayed response (the first door opens and then approx. 5 seconds later the 2nd door opens).

The left most door is the one that is controlled by the automatic door opener. The automatic door opener does open both sets of doors to a delayed response (the first door opens and then approx. 5 seconds later the 2nd door opens).

Leading to main lobby, automatic door opener to the right.

The automatic door opener for the set of doors is located to the right of the set of doors door and is a silver/grey rectangular button with completely faded wording. The button is located directly under the Pcard reader.

The silver/grey button triggers the automatic door opener.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrance 2, 8th Avenue west end of building, closest to JRC 101:

If coming from the HSSC the first accessible entrance, when facing the building straight on with 8th Ave. behind you, is on the left side of the building. This entrance is the closest entrance to JRC 101, and will also allow you to get to the main lobby. To access the ramp you need to go towards the patio area on your right and around the bike racks to access the ramp. 

8th Avenue central-western entrance ramp

8th Avenue center of building

From there take the ramp up to the first door closest to the push button automatic door opener. These doors have a staggered opening time where the second door opens approx. 3 seconds after the first door has opened. 

The right-most door is the one that is triggered by the automatic door opener. Both doors (internal and external) open at the same time with the push of the automatic door button so there is no delay.

The location of the automatic door opener is to the right of the set of doors next to the multi-toned brown brick wall. The automatic door opener sits on a metal post next to the trash can and the button faces in towards the entrance of the door. The text on the button is faded. 

The right-most door is the one that is triggered by the automatic door opener. Both doors (internal and external) open at the same time with the push of the automatic door button so there is no delay.

Wide bank of double doors on the 8th Avenue, west end of JRC, with door opener on the far right.

Image of automatic door opener

The door opener is free-standing in front of and to the right of the right-most set of double doors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entrance from the Patio that sits between the Marketplace Dining Hall and Spencer Grill and enters between the Renfrow Gallery and Laurel Leaf Lounge: **This door does not have an automatic door opener** 

Entrance from the patio that sits on 8th Avenue between the Marketplace Dining Hall and Spencer Grill:  

The right-most door in the set of doors is the one that has the automatic door opener. The interior door has a delay of approximately 4 seconds from the time of pushing the button on the exterior of the building to open the door.  

The automatic door opener is a silvery/grey color with no lettering on it located below the P-card reader. It is located to the right of the doors on the wall made of grey slate slabs. 

This button also opens the furthest door to the right once inside the JRC, has a delay of about 3 ½ seconds. That door is also accessible from the inside of the JRC, but a push-button located to the right of the door, near JRC 101.  

The right most door in the set of doors is the one that has the automatic door opener. The interior door has a delay of approximately 4 seconds from the time of pushing the button on the exterior of the building to open the door.

Direct entrance to main lobby.

The automatic door opener is a silvery/grey color with no lettering on it located below the Pcard reader. It is located to the right of the doors on the wall made of grey slate slabs.

The automatic door opener is the lower silver button.

 

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