Project Overview
Located next to the Melbourn Science Park, this large-scale development provides technology consultants TTP with three new state-of-the-art buildings.
The scheme provides 105,000 sq ft of mixed office and laboratory space in a design entirely bespoke to the client.
The Client team approached SDC in late 2020 for cost advice, with SDC agreeing to price the job in just four weeks.
The development features three distinct buildings of varying shapes on the 7-acre site. The main building, The Hive, is positioned between the Tech Barn to the north and The Exchange to the south. A key aspect of the design is the integration of diverse indoor and outdoor working and social spaces, with all buildings seamlessly connected to the surrounding landscaping and fitness trail.
The Hive provides 77,016 sq. ft of open plan mixed office and laboratory space.
The building’s unique shape takes inspiration from a beehive and features over 20 ‘quadrants’ stacked around one another. A reinforced concrete frame supports a facade treatment of curtain walling, pre-cast concrete cladding, anodised rainscreen cladding, and louvre screens. Internally, The Hive features an exposed roof slab and concrete columns with a raised access floor system to house the mechanical ductwork. A range of acoustic finishes have been included on the walls and ceilings to soften the concrete surfaces. The flexible and adaptive open labs encourage innovation, and high-specification meeting pods throughout the office space provide private collaborative working areas.
The second building, the steel-framed Tech Barn, now lies to the north of this once greenfield site.
Offering over 17,631 sq ft of focused laboratory, testing and build space, the structure’s double-height open workshop area allows the client complete flexibility depending on project requirements. The subtle exterior features anodised aluminium cladding, louvre screens, and fair-faced blockwork.
The last building, The Exchange, is the main social, event and dining space.
Visible from the entrance to the site, The Exchange boasts 9,591 sq. ft of collaborative, agile working and social space for employees to enjoy, featuring a restaurant, conference facilities, and gym.
The interior mimics the Hive, featuring an exposed concrete roof slab and frame, complemented by a green roof. Outside, the building showcases faceted curtain walling, with glazed anodised aluminium louvres covering nearly half of the façade.
Project Birchwood achieved 7 National Construction awards, including the prestigious ‘BCO Best of the Best Corporate Workplace Award.’
Dr. Sam Hyde, Managing Director of TTP
“We’re delighted to be moving in April and look forward to benefitting from this amazing space. Our new campus will enable our technically brilliant people to come together and work across disciplines. It will enhance the way we work alongside, and deliver for, our clients from the early ideas through to commercial production.”
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.
Tom Fenner
Project Manager
Tom started his career after graduating with a First-Class Degree in Construction Engineering Management from the University of Loughborough. Tom has been with SDC since 2015, where he has progressed to Project Director. Over the years, Tom has gained extensive experience in overseeing large-scale, multifaceted developments, building a solid reputation for successfully delivering complex and high-profile projects. His expertise and leadership have been pivotal in ensuring the seamless execution of projects, earning him the trust and respect of both colleagues and clients alike.
Andrew Clark
Commercial Manager
Andrew has worked at SDC since 1995 and is one of the longest serving members of the company, where he has progressed to Project Commercial Director. He is a valued and trusted member of the team with significant industry experience. Andrew has contributed to a vast range of projects across Oxford and Cambridge, where he is responsible for providing commercial leadership, strategic commercial direction and support to the project team.
Josh Goodwin
Design Manager
Josh joined SDC in 2015 after receiving a BSc in Construction Engineering Management from the University of Loughborough. Starting as a Design Coordinator, he quickly showcased his expertise and leadership potential, progressing through various roles over the years. Currently serving as the Head of Design, Josh oversees the Design Department and manages all phases of project design, ensuring the integration of technical and creative solutions. His comprehensive knowledge of construction engineering, coupled with his strategic vision, has been pivotal in delivering high-quality and innovative design solutions across multiple projects.
Dean Lathan
M&E Manager
Raj Parmar
Pre-Construction Manager
Since starting with SDC in 2013, Raj has proven himself to be an accomplished Pre-Construction Manager with a wealth of construction knowledge. Raj’s responsibilities include the overall management of the pre-construction process and assuming the pivotal role of client liaison throughout the whole of the project. With over two decades at the company, Raj is a well-respected member of the team who has worked and a huge variety of projects for a range of sectors including education, leisure, and science and technology.
Matt Wells
Planning Manager
