Project Overview
This project for Newnham College, Cambridge, involved the demolition and partial demolition of the existing Strachey and Fawcett buildings, with a four-storey student accommodation building constructed in their place.
The building encourages community and inclusivity.
Named after Dorothy Garrod, the first female professor at the University of Cambridge, the building features a new entrance, a welcoming porters’ lodge, conference facilities, a rooftop gym, staff offices, meeting and supervision rooms, 86 spacious ensuite student bedrooms, communal kitchen/social areas, and a café at the heart of the college.
The masonry was one of the standout features of this prestigious project.
Predominantly constructed using a reinforced concrete frame, there is also a single-storey steel frame on the third floor to form two pavilions that are set back from the edges of the building to limit visual impact at street level. To maintain consistency with the rest of Newnham College, the building is clad in a masonry façade with hit-and-miss brickwork at ground floor level to provide natural ventilation.
The masonry was one of the standout features of this prestigious project, with the façade constructed using a handmade Northcot Sidgwick blend and natural cement lime mortar. SDC’s directly employed bricklayers laid nine different shaped bricks in total, in a variety of bonds including Stretcher, English Garden Wall, and Dogstooth, subsequently winning the Brick Awards ‘Craftmanship Award’.
The College had a desire to provide high-end facilities that maximised space and comfort while also providing efficient services.
An eco-friendly design that included photovoltaics on the roof, absence detection on mechanical and electrical installations, and natural ventilation was developed. Low profile heating in the skirting boards and underfloor heating in communal areas allows for maximum wall and floor space use.
The project won 14 awards, including CFCI (Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry) Craftmanship Award, CFCI Site Manager of the Year, and RIBA East Building of the Year Award 2019.
Wendy Evans, Domestic Bursar
“The SDC team led by David Heard were extremely collaborative, proactive, and reactive. The team worked very well with the College Project Team, which was a multi-person “stakeholder” team, which can cause problems for a contractor when timely decisions are required. Their after service was, and is excellent.”
Core Team
Adam Knaggs
Board Director
Adam has cultivated a celebrated career in construction management, culminating in his appointment as Managing Director in September 2021. His early exposure to the construction industry began with hands-on experience assisting his father in building agricultural structures. Following his GCSEs, Adam launched his own business, focusing on farming construction projects for a year. However, due to a decline in workload, he joined SDC in 1995.
Commencing his tenure as a Trainee Site Engineer, Adam has steadily advanced through a variety of site-based management roles, accumulating a wealth of experience and making substantial contributions to the company’s operations. In his capacity as Managing Director, he now plays a pivotal role in defining SDC’s strategic direction and ensuring the successful delivery of its diverse project portfolio. He also has overall responsibility for Health and Safety, and Quality departments.
Adam has led significant large-scale projects, including the Northampton College Redevelopment which, at the time, was one of the largest contracts in SDC’s history. His leadership on this project earned him recognition as a finalist in the Construction Manager of the Year Awards in 2009. Earlier in his career, Adam also received the Institution of Civil Engineers’ Site Engineer of the Year Award in 1999 for his innovative shuttering system design.
Beyond his project work, Adam has been an active participant in the broader construction industry. As Chair of the Cambridgeshire branch of the Chartered Institute of Building from 2016 to 2019, he promoted collaboration and professional development within the sector. More recently, he served as a trustee of the CFCI for three years. Under Adam’s guidance, SDC continues to advance its long-standing tradition of delivering quality construction projects, supported by a commitment to innovation, excellence, and community engagement.
Peter Armstrong
Construction Manager
Paul Cooper
Commercial Manager
Andy Roberts
Design Manager
Jonathan Richardson
M&E Manager
After completing his A-Levels in Nottingham, Jonathan pursued an engineering apprenticeship at Leeds College of Building. This block-release programme integrated theoretical study with hands-on experience, enhancing his technical skills and problem-solving abilities. During his apprenticeship, he worked with a national MEP contractor, which gave him valuable industry exposure but ultimately highlighted his preference for a more collaborative and people-focused work environment.
A significant shift in Jonathan’s career occurred when his mentor invited him to join a regional family-owned MEP contractor in Nottingham. The role suited his collaborative working style, but the company later faced financial challenges during a recession, prompting him to explore new opportunities.
Having already collaborated with SDC as a subcontractor, Jonathan’s skills drew the attention of the company’s M&E Director. After his former employer’s closure, he joined SDC and was soon entrusted with leading its newly created M&E self-delivery department. Over 18 months, he assembled a team of professionals with subcontractor expertise, building a department now comprising 20 members, including trainees and project managers. This team operates with a focus on technical excellence and practical problem-solving.
In 2016, SDC supported Jonathan during a challenging period in his personal life. Faced with extensive travel demands and an expanding family, he raised his concerns with the company, which facilitated his relocation closer to its base. This adjustment improved his work-life balance and reinforced his commitment to the company.
Jonathan became a Director in January 2024. In this role, he is responsible for project delivery, tendering, preconstruction, and sustainability efforts, alongside overseeing the MEP department. His contributions have been integral to the successful delivery of complex projects in sectors such as Formula One, including work with clients like Aston Martin and Red Bull. He values the variety and problem-solving aspects of his role and is committed to fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement within SDC.
Carl Seager
M&E Manager
David Heard
Second Stage Leader
Matt Wells
Planning Manager
