Cadbury
Bournville Place, Bournville Lane, Birmingham
MoreySmith's dramatic new interior for Cadbury's headquarters forms an integral part of a £30m transformation of the historic site in Bournville Village. The building was formerly the Cadbury's Dining Block, built in the 1920s; the original external features have been retained, remaining true to Cadbury's rich heritage, and beautifully offset by the new contemporary front façade and interior.
The new, light filled atrium is the lively hub of Bournville Place, providing visual connection from floor to floor and a physical meeting place in the form of the Bournville Bean Bar, to the centre of the atrium.
The Cadbury brand is subtly enhanced throughout the building through graphics and bespoke signage.
Winner, BCO (British Council for Offices) Awards 2009
Regional winner, Refurbished/Recycled Workplace
The BeanBar offers a relaxed space for informal meetings and socialising, and the snug area, tucked beneath the 1st floor balcony, offers a soft and comfortable contrast to the bright and airy atrium.
The 650 staff are spread over 3 floors surrounding the atrium in the 10,575 sq m building, with a conference suite and staff restaurant on the lower ground floor.
Central to the brief was the desire to create an office with personality and life. The open plan floors, with their high ceilings and excellent natural light, provide a cool and contemporary backdrop for the flashes of colour and branding which vary floor by floor.
This picture shows the 'Knowledge Zone' in the rear atrium. The feel here is more domestic and provides touch down, a library, lockers and desk sharing for visiting sales teams.
Equally crucial was the requirement to deliver a building able to express Cadbury's ethos and culture, reinforce business priorities and support new ways of working that stimulate business performance. This was addressed by placing particular emphasis on the value of spaces where people meet. A huge variety of different meeting spaces were created on every floor, from formal meeting rooms, to quiet booths, to open plan breakout areas with soft seating.
'I am quite certain this building would have impressed my
grandfather. Instead of pulling things down, we have taken what
was good of the old and re-modelled it for a new purpose. The
building back then was at the centre of Bournville life. You have
once again given it pride of place in the Bournville of years to
come'
Sir Adrian Cadbury