Campenon Bernard

Created in 1920

Picture with legend
The Chambon dam was the largest dam in Europe for over 20 years

1920-1945
Campenon Bernard was created in 1920 by a young engineer, Edme Campenon, and an entrepreneur, André Bernard. The company focused on the construction of railways, industrial buildings, roads, and hydraulic infrastructure. The construction of the Chambon dam in 1927 was its first big success. After initial difficulties, the project became a test site for new, more resistant concrete. As a result, yields improved and output reached a record-breaking one thousand cubic metres a day.
Anticipating new technological developments, Campenon Bernard teamed up with Eugène Freyssinet and gave the latter the opportunity to use prestressing technology in major infrastructure. Just before World War II, Campenon Bernard dominated the civil engineering market. During the war, the company pursued honourable business objectives and took part in the creation of STUP (société technique pour l’utilisation de la précontrainte) to market processes developed by Eugène Freyssinet.
1945-1984
In the post-war period, the group was involved in a number of construction sites in France, the colonies and other countries. Wherever it went, Campenon Bernard provided ingenious and innovative technical solutions as shown by projects such as the Marcoule nuclear power plant and the Choisy-le-Roi bridge. In 1962, however, the virtuous cycle ended with the death of Edme Campenon and Eugène Freyssinet.
The engineers of Campenon Bernard continued to renew the group's expertise, thanks to civil and military engineering contracts and the construction of several bridges as well as the Oléron viaduct. From 1962 to 1970, over half of all bridges in France were the work of Campenon Bernard. Projects such as the Montparnasse tower in Paris and the Montreal subway further raised the group's reputation, in an environment of heightened competition.
1984-2000
In 1984, Compagnie Générale des Eaux took over Campenon Bernard. The company won recognition for the construction of the Jules Verne viaduct in Amiens, where it broke the world record for thrust (15,300 tonnes). Campenon Bernard joined SGE in 1988. Under the name Campenon Bernard-SGE, it was responsible for prestigious projects, such as the Stade de France stadium and the Vasco de Gama bridge in Lisbon.