Cadbury and Kraft – Innovation Kitchen

The rationalisation and development of a number of areas of the business led to the need to provide additional facilities at the Bournville site. The site is focused on creating a centre for excellence, promoting creativity and innovation for testing and presentation of new products.

The requirements included relocating pilot plant equipment from another site, creating a new “Innovation Kitchen “, office fit-out and changing rooms.

The area available was previously occupied by microbiology and analytical laboratories which had been relocated to a new laboratory, designed and built by Austin.

The remaining area was allocated for office use.

Austin was given the opportunity to provide design, engineering, construction and management services to undertake this project based on the good experience of previous work.

Austin developed a brief with Cadbury/Kraft from concept through to preliminary design to refurbish and upgrade part of the existing fifth floor linked across a number of buildings at the Bournville site.

The centre piece of the development is the “Innovation Kitchen,” a high profile space where VIPs, industry peers and public consultation can take place in a flexible multi use space.

Frameless glazed walls to the corridor provide a visual “openness” to the GMP pilot plant space.

An acoustic dividing wall enabled part of the space to be used as a separate meeting room.

Purpose made granite surfaced island benches support the interactive chocolate based activities in the Innovation Kitchen.

An area has been created, known as the Super-module, forming part of the pilot plant activity. This is a GMP area linked to the existing pilot plant functions.

New change facilities for access to the GMP manufacturing areas were incorporated.

Offices were designed to provide a flexible, stimulating environment.

Existing lift and stair access was rationalised with a focal space relating to the office with a feature ceiling as part of the branding.

Strong branding has been used throughout to support the Cadbury/Kraft image which creates exciting elements in both, innovation kitchen and the office.

Austin successfully provided multidisciplinary design, management and construction services to deliver the project.