Project overview
A comprehensive redevelopment of The Welding Institute’s site to create a series of new structures connected to the main Bevan Braithwaite building by a link street. The three buildings, with a combined floor area of 25,000 sq.m., are occupied by a mixture of B1 (Research and Development) and D1 (Educational and Training) spaces.
Granta Park is a science and technology park on the bank of the River Granta in Cambridge. The campus was established in 1997 by the Chief Executive of The Welding Institute, Bevan Braithwaite OBE.
He started negotiations to buy the 87 acres of farmland, on which Granta Park is now built, and obtained planning permission for a high quality, fully landscaped development. Partnering with Eric Parry Architects, TWI developed the master plan for the park considering ecological criteria to preserve and enhance the existing rural landscape. TWI Ltd and MEPC plc provided the funding and the Granta Park company was formed.
The construction of a cluster of modern R&D facilities initiated TWI’s move from their previous headquarters in the Abington Building to two of the newly constructed buildings, aptly named the Bevan Braithwaite Building and Engineering Hall, which still stand as two of the seven structures in TWI’s current establishment today.
SDC’s appointment began when a restructuring of Granta Park’s ownership enabled TWI to transform their site further and create accommodation more suited to the company’s growing needs. This involved the creation of three large-scale structures with varying roof heights and profiles. An internal street that also docks into the original TWI building physically ties these new buildings, bringing new and old accommodation together.
The three buildings, with a combined floor area of 25,000 sq.m., are occupied by a mixture of B1 (Research and Development) and D1 (Educational and Training) spaces. Building One houses a reception, restaurant with 300 covers, kitchen, conference facility, library, lecture theatre, café, and office accommodation. Office areas are designed with flexibility in mind and can be easily subdivided to suit current company and departmental requirements.
Building Two is almost identical to Building One, but houses laboratories, teaching spaces, PHD write-up areas and office accommodation. Finally, Building Three is an Engineering Hall formed of three 72.5m x 22m wide bays capable of accepting high level cranes.
Externally, two of the buildings are grass-bunded to internal worktop height, while an outer glazed screen aesthetically unifies the lower level.
Multi-coloured terracotta ‘baguette’ tiles are featured above the ground floor and on the third building. While this brings coherence to the whole development, each building is given its own identity through a different colour scheme.
Project team
Adam Knaggs
Managing Director
Adam joined SDC in 1995 as a Site Engineer. His position as Managing Director involves contributing to the day-to-day running of the business, setting the strategy for projects, and supporting all departments. Adam’s active approach to problem solving has been a defining trait of his career, as recognised by the Institution of Civil Engineers who honoured him with their Site Engineer of the Year Award 1999, in which he was praised for designing his own shuttering system.
Andrew Shiner
Director
Andy joined SDC as a Site Agent and rose through the ranks to Project Director, before taking on his current role as Board Director in 2020. The experience he gained in all three professions will undoubtedly assist him in leading this scheme. On a previous project for NIAB in Cambridge, Andy’s team were responsible for SDC’s highest Considerate Constructors’ score to date (90 out of 100) and a Runner’s Up Prize at the CCS National Awards in 2019.
Andrew Mitchell
Director
Andrew is a senior member of staff who holds the role of Director/Company Secretary. He joined SDC in 1994, and had therefore been with the company for almost thirty years. He plays a key role in ensuring that board procedures are both followed and regularly reviewed. The Chairman and Board Directors will look to the Company Secretary for guidance as to what their responsibilities are under the rules and regulations to which they are subject, and on how these responsibilities should be discharged.
Francis Shiner
Chairman
Since joining the company in 1983, Francis has assumed various roles, from Chief Surveyor to managing Director, ultimately assuming the position of Chairman in 2021.
Dan Changer
Director
Dan studied Architecture at the University of Cambridge and worked as a chartered Architect before joining SDC in 2010. Joining as a Design Coordinator, Dan then opted to work as a Contracts Manager, receiving a promotion to Project Manager before his appointment to the Board of Directors in 2020. His duties and responsibilities include setting the overall strategy for the project, as well as leading the project team and ensuring the scheme is delivered within the client’s time, quality and budget constraints. Dan’s client-focused attitude and collaborative problem-solving approach will be crucial to the scheme’s successful delivery.
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