The best of old and new is promised when the former dining block at Cadbury's Bournville factory is converted into offices.
The task of project managing this complex project is in the hands of Nigel Britten, head of construction services at NAI Fuller Peiser's Birmingham office.
With a completion date of late 2007, he has to balance preserving the heritage of the now-outmoded building with bringing it back to life so that 600 modern-day office workers can move in.
NAI Fuller Peiser has been involved with the project from its conception, helping Cadbury to decamp staff and facilities into other buildings and creating a new staff shop on site.
Stage one, due for completion next February, involves the demolition of the old low-bay kitchen and dining areas in the middle of the 80-year-old building - within a conservation area - refurbishing the rest of the block and preparing the footplate for new office space.
Mr Britten, who worked as project manager to create Wragge's offices in Colmore Row some 15 years ago, says: "It's part of a long -term strategic plan to improve offices at Bournville.
"It is a matter of creating an open office environment with the benefits of working better together between aligned teams."
The work will be done in two phases - the first linking the west pavilion fronting the sports ground in Bournville Lane and the east concert hall with a new floorplate to create 150,000 sq ft of new office space.
"This will complete in February 2006," says Mr Britten. "The second- phase proposals will include the creation of an elegant new entrance to the building on Bournville Lane, a dramatic light and airy atrium area, a bridge to link with the factory and a new terrace to extend the dining area outside in the summer."
