Sensory Guide: JF Allen Building
Introduction
The JF Allen Building is home to the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St Andrews. It is used for teaching, studying, and informal socialising by undergraduate and postgraduate students.
This sensory guide outlines what you might experience in key teaching, study, and communal spaces within the building.
The JF Allen Building is located on the North Haugh, St Andrews (KY16 9SS).
Café
Visual 👁
- Floor-to-ceiling windows providing lots of natural light
- Open-plan space connected to the entrance and Maths building
- Vending machines visible in the space
Audio 👂
- Can be busy and noisy, especially at lunchtime 🔉
- Noise from passersby moving through the space
- Possible draught-related sounds from nearby doors
Smell 👃
- Noticeable food smells during opening hours
Touch & Personal Space ✋
- Mix of seating: hard chairs at tables and padded couches
- Can feel crowded during peak times
Lecture Theatres A & B
Visual 👁
- Bright overhead lighting
- No natural light (no windows)
Audio 👂
- Generally quiet once lectures begin
- Carpeted flooring helps dampen footstep noise 🔉
Touch & Personal Space ✋
- Fixed, padded seating
- Seats are closely spaced, offering limited personal space
- Lecture Theatre A capacity: 350
- Lecture Theatre B capacity: 140
Lecture Theatre C
Visual 👁
- Bright overhead lighting
- No natural light (no windows)
Audio 👂
- Carpeted flooring reduces footstep noise 🔉
Touch & Personal Space ✋
- Padded seating
- Larger gaps between seats compared to other theatres
- Small fold-out tables attached to seats
- Capacity: 78
JF Allen Library
Visual 👁
- Large windows providing natural light
- Bright lighting throughout the space
Audio 👂
- Quiet study environment 🔕
- Carpeted flooring helps reduce sound
Touch & Personal Space ✋
- Individual study spaces and computer access
- Seating allows for focused, low-interaction study
- Capacity: 42