Wood Construction, a responsible corporate culture for a sustainable urban landscape

Published the 29/06/23 | Territorial life

Wood Construction offers sustainable, energy-efficient buildings with a low environmental impact, based on the concept of “passive construction”.

From wood to passive wood construction

Christophe Bedeau trained in joinery at the Institut Universitaire des Métiers et du Patrimoine in Troyes, and set up Wood Construction in 2006. “I wanted to use wood in my business because it’s a virtuous, noble product that’s pleasant to work with,” he says, before adding: “When I started out, wood construction was in its infancy, but the general public was already aware of the importance of using healthy materials. Working with wood made sense to me if it was used in its entirety and if it helped households save energy. So I worked with natural insulation materials such as cellulose wadding, wool and wood fibre, all of which have exceptionally good thermal properties, ensuring comfort all year round. Wood Construction then specialised in the construction of passive houses and professional buildings. Growing ecological awareness and the ever-increasing cost of energy have been motivating factors in promoting the advantages of passive wood-frame construction.

Strong local roots…

The Sud Champagne region is a dynamic economic area for the construction industry. “Our business is mainly in the Aube region, with no fewer than 1,000 m2 of timber construction completed each year”, explains Christophe Bedeau, before continuing, “our sales approach was initially aimed at private individuals. The efficiency of our constructions then attracted a social landlord, then local authorities interested in our expertise”. The company is currently working on the Pôle Petite Enfance project at Saint-Julien-Les-Villas near Troyes, a 900 m2 passive house built entirely of wood, due for delivery at the end of 2023. On the strength of its experience, Wood Construction is developing its market with professionals and tertiary buildings. Another fine example is a 600 m2 passive complex, comprising 18 offices, located right next door to Wood Construction’s head office.

Anticipating the future

As a member of the FFCP (Fédération Française de la Construction Passive) and the Institut Supérieur de la Construction Passive at the IUMP in Troyes, the company sees passing on its expertise as a way of encouraging curiosity and the discovery of tried and tested methods. Our region is very dynamic in terms of passive wood construction. In 2020 and 2021, the Troyes conurbation hosted the Journées Pros of the Fédération Française de la Construction Passive, a national event organised every year and bringing together no fewer than 200 companies involved in this type of construction.

Wood Construction, partner of the Pôle Bois Sud Champagne

“Our profession is beautiful, demanding and requires real technical skill. Our project has meaning! Building a healthy, sustainable and energy-efficient house or building is almost a mission! Our DNA is based on three values: social, environmental and technical expertise,” adds Christophe Bedeau. Today, however, there is a real need to attract young people to passive construction. There is a shortage of people with practical experience. Training and recruitment are among the issues that Christophe Bedeau wants to tackle within the Sud Champagne Wood Cluster, run by Business Sud Champagne. “I wanted to get involved in the cluster and be part of this human adventure, to promote the wood industry. This ecosystem is made up of different players, and we need to pool our exchanges between professionals. It’s great to be able to get together and exchange ideas. We have common problems, particularly recruitment. We’re counting on the dynamics of the group to encourage people to join us,” concludes Christophe Bedeau.