Conservation group The Victorian Society has hit out at the "wholly unacceptable" redevelopment of one of Birmingham's most historic buildings.
Plans into the Grade II-listed Louisa Ryland House, in Newhall Street, which would see new offices, shops and a restaurant developed.
Applicant Euro Property Investments also wants to demolish the existing mansard roof and erect a two-storey replacement with a plant room.
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It is this element that has caused ire at the Victorian Society, which claimed it would harm the proportions and significance of Louisa Ryland House, the conservation area and the setting of the adjacent Grade I-listed School of Art.
The society said the proposed roof meant a third of the vacant building's storeys would be in the roof, making it much more visible and "negatively affecting the handsome proportions" of the complex.
Developers are also planning to reconfigure the ground floor entrance, which will see three windows replaced by doors.
Louisa Ryland House, bought by was originally three separate buildings - the Medical Institute, the Board School Offices and the Parish Offices.
They underwent redevelopment work during the 1980s, carried out by previous owner Birmingham City Council, after which only the façades and offices behind were retained.
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Stephen Hartland, chairman of the Victorian Society's Birmingham and West Midlands Group, said: "While we support restoration of Louisa Ryland House in principle, the scale of the roof extension would damage the building's significance.
"The developers have huge flexibility in what can be done with the space as the interiors have already been lost.
"A roof, which adds a third to the building's storeys, would seriously harm its proportions and negatively impact both the conservation area and the nearby Art School.
"Such a change is unnecessary and wholly unacceptable. I hope the public will object to these plans."
Comments on the proposals can be submitted until February 25.
Graftongate and Euro Property Investments had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.