Bond Associates chairman Steve Russell in the atrium of the refurbished Courtlands building

Bond Associates chairman Steve Russell said: "After so much planning, it is very exciting to see the building finally taking shape and being restored to its former glory. There are so many wonderful, original features and we have worked closely with our architects to ensure that the character of the building is retained."

During the major restoration, builders have unearthed a number of fascinating finds, including a worker's timesheet from 1948 when the building was being converted into a post-operative recovery hospital to relieve pressure at Worthing Hospital. They also found a floorboard handwritten with the date it was laid - 1911 - three years before the First World War, which probably resulted in the workman who laid it being called up. Other discoveries include various antique bottles and an ancient Shredded Wheat box!

Chairman Steve Russell and site manager Frank Wright viewing some of the salvaged architraves which are being reused at Courtlands

Because of the building's Grade II listing, replacement balconies are being specially made and any spare original materials such as skirting boards and hand-carved door surrounds are being re-used.

During the project, more than 40 kms (25 miles) of data cabling will be laid to service Bond's computer network, two tons of wood will be used, along with 3000kg (6,666lbs) of plaster.

Once completed, the HQ will feature a high-tech demo room, grand entrance hall with painted glass dome and five acres of landscaped gardens including a lake. It is hoped to restore part of the grounds into a nature reserve which are to be dedicated to the late 'Fox Man of Worthing' Eric Fossleitner, who used to love to watch foxes playing in the grounds.

Publicly-quoted Bond's software and services are available world-wide through a network of five offices in the UK, USA, South Africa and Australia and its highly-successful flagship product, Adapt, is currently to be found on over 13,000 desktops in almost 30 countries world-wide.

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