It's been a long time in coming, but apparently the transformation is virtually complete.

At least part of the more than 50-year-old building that once inadequately housed the Robins Air Force Base commissary will soon have a new lease on life.

Some time this fall, the C-17 Globemaster III combined program office will move to the site following renovations that began in January. According to a Robins press release, some 200 people including government, Boeing and foreign military sales representatives will occupy the northeast corner of the building that once housed the commissary sales area.

"The facility will accommodate 24/7 C-17 MICAP control center operations and allow synergistic teamwork of government, industry and FMS sustainers," Col. David Morgan is quoted in the press statement. Morgan is the C-17 Globemaster division chief at Robins.

"The entire C-17 team is very grateful for the hard work all of Team Robins provided," Morgan added. "Their contributions will have a tremendous impact on C-17 sustainment and indirectly improve the Air Force's overall airlift capability."

The new area located in Bldg. 660 will be a far cry from the old commissary with its cramped, one-way aisles and unusual ramp or staircase entrance.

The newly renovated site features 35,000 square feet of accommodations, the Robins press statement noted, with room for four-person cubicles, offices, break rooms, secure communications areas and a command suite. Ceilings have been lowered, walls removed and new carpet, lighting, fire alarms, heating and air systems and doors installed. Parking has also been added along with an elevator access.

All that remains, base officials said, is ordering furniture and installing cabling and office equipment.

The base plans to renovate additional space in the building at a later date.