Project Overview
This project entailed a substantial upgrade of the internal and external fabric to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions by 75% and 88% respectively. Work included the replacement of existing service installations and the introduction of new sustainable technologies, along with thermal improvements to the walls, floors, roof and windows.
The project comprised three key components.
The works included the creation of student rooms to standards of comfort and sustainability meeting contemporary and anticipated future standards. There was a need to support these rooms with appropriate service installations and sustainable systems. Finally, the building fabric – particularly of the external envelope – was renovated to enhance the character and heritage significance of New Court.
With New Court being a Grade I listed building it was imperative to re-use existing materials rather than replacing them with modern alternatives.
Consequently, SDC established a carpentry workshop in Caxton to provide a controlled facility for refurbishing the 200-year-old joinery items before reinstalling them on site.
Core Team
Adam Knaggs
Project 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.
Neil Sillitoe
Construction Manager
Paul Cooper
Commercial Manager
Tim Strickland
Project Liaison Manager
Matt Wells
Planning Manager
