Dental teaching center for Besançon University Hospital (25)

With an investment of 14 million euros, the Centre d'Enseignement et de Soins Dentaires (CESD) in Besançon is an exceptional architectural and technical achievement. The 3,600 m2, 2-storey building, including 40 dental surgeries, 2 imaging rooms and a prosthetics laboratory, was completed in just 9 months. An exceptional timeframe for a project of this scale and built in time for the start of the student year last September. This feat is based on an off-site wood-frame design, unprecedented in the region on this scale, piloted by the project management consortium composing of CRR Architecture, Groupe 1000 and Ossabois, and the use of Fundermax Max Exterior cladding panels (NT Maize, White and Sparrow). While manufacturing the modules in the workshop saved considerable time, the choice of Fundermax panels, which were prepared in the factory before being installed on site on the wooden wall, was also decisive.

"We wanted to propose a compact, functional complex in conjunction with the Besançon University Hospital. Our building is open to the outside and offers a new legibility for the CHU. The idea was not to let the modular aspect show through. The architectural response therefore involved work on the facades, the choice of materials and the play of colorimetry”. - Hervé Zawadzki and Oliver David, architects from CRR Écritures architecturales

The project, designed by the CRR agency under the direction of architects Hervé Zawadzki and Olivier David, takes a contemporary approach, in harmony with the site's specific environmental features. 

With this ambition in mind, Fundermax cladding solutions were an obvious choice right from the design stage. The facades feature dynamic volumes and a refined visual rhythm, underlined by the precise arrangement of Fundermax panels in Maize, White and Sparrow. This subtle palette creates a chromatic synergy, balancing contrasts while preserving overall harmony.

Fundermax Max Exterior panels are more than just an aesthetic choice; they're a reliable technical solution. Resistant to extreme climatic conditions, they integrate perfectly with timber-frame constructions thanks to their dimensional stability and low thermal reaction. As bio-sourced materials, they promote sustainability and environmental integration, contributing to low-carbon construction.

«Building in record time»

"The Besançon University Hospital wanted to be able to construct a building in record time, so as to welcome students from the start of the academic year in September 2024. We responded, along with Groupe 1000 and Ossabois, with the aim of proposing a fast, efficient modular wood-frame construction solution. Fundermax panels were perfectly suited to these constraints, and met our requirements for laminated, bio-sourced and durable panels. Our choice was also guided by the variety of colors on offer, enabling us to find the right shades to compose our facades." - Hervé Zawadzki and Olivier David, architects from CRR Écritures architecturales

The off-site approach significantly improves the efficiency and speed of construction projects. Workshop fabrication of the 73 building components simplifies on-site assembly, reducing lead times and optimizing resources. This method ensures rapid execution while maintaining high quality, minimizing on-site adjustments and contingencies. 

One of the major assets of this project is the upstream preparation. Precise 3D laser surveying and detailed layout planning enabled the precise cutting of almost 1,200 panels. Factory-prepared by Scabois, these panels were pre-drilled and numbered to simplify on-site installation. This rigorous approach doubled the rate of installation compared with traditional methods and optimized the fall rate, demonstrating the efficiency of the process.

On receipt of the panels on site, Sébastien Tissot was able to install them on the timber-framed facades without difficulty: “Usually, we have to cut and adjust the panels on site, but this time, they arrived ready to install. We were able to install the 1,600 m² of cladding in just 3 months. The upstream organization clearly contributed to double our productivity, and it's obviously an experience worth repeating!” 

«An equally interesting prospect»

“This first experience in industrializing facade cladding is promising. In the future, if we can integrate cladding into our wood modules, we'll do so without hesitation!”  - Annaëlle Da Rocha, Ossabois Development Manager

This 14 M€ project is a perfect example of how an off-site approach, combined with high-performance materials such as Fundermax panels, can revolutionize traditional building practices. Everyone involved, from design to completion, played a key role in the success of this project, meeting technical and architectural requirements in record time. For Fundermax, this achievement is a testament to the positive impact of innovation on traditional construction methods and represents a true collective success where every team member is committed to excelling in their field and rethinking their habits.