In 2014, Christophe Blum and Yann Drocourt, two colleagues, founded Hazmat Consulting, “a design office specializing in the identification of pollutants including asbestos, PCBs or arsenic in industrial environments such as refineries and thermal power plants. , trains or even boats.
With the regulatory arsenal in France, it is obligatory during dismantling, maintenance or work.
We are more in the framework of the protection of workers and the environment.
We intervened everywhere in France as after the fire of Lubrizol or Notre-Dame de Paris for the detection of lead and also abroad, for example on the Total oil platforms in Congo, at Technip in Algeria or for Vinci at Belgrade airport” explain the founders.
With around forty employees spread across four sites near Rouen, in Vitrolles and Le Havre (Seine-Maritime), the managers decided shortly before the health crisis to set up their head office at Porte Océane.
While they were looking for an atypical place, "why not a mansion, a nice setting for our employees with ideally an exterior and especially no office bars", they came across the chapel of Notre-Dame-de-la -Hève and its presbytery.
The bell will take pride of place at reception after its restoration
Built in the 1920s, the religious building was deconsecrated in the mid-20th century and initially transformed into a village hall.
In 1970, the diocese of Le Havre built a church nearby and entrusted the chapel to the Scouts of France: “recently relocated, it was for sale.
We got the information through our professional network.
It was a favorite, because the building had potential.
There was something extraordinary to do in it.
The diocese chose our project because we kept the chapel unlike other developers who wanted to build a building on it.
There was a lot of emotion,” explains Christophe Blum.
The business leaders hired the services of two architects and launched work worth one million euros on the 945 m2 plot: “the acquisition price was attractive.
However, we have experienced all the crises so an envelope increased by + 40%.
After a little over a year of work where a complete cleaning of the interior was carried out, where the roof was replaced with slate, we obtained 390 m2 of offices and a meeting room on a ground floor. ground and one floor.
The most difficult thing was creating the basket handle frames, because no two openings have identical dimensions.
We also lowered the bell melted in 1925 in Douai.
It went to be restored and upon its return it will rest on a wooden support at reception,” continues Yann Drocourt.
Today, the offices are all occupied.
There are still some finishing touches, especially on the exterior.
The managers are happy “to have awakened a sleeping beauty.
We think we have done something beautiful.
Besides, passers-by stop to tell us.
The neighborhood welcomed the conservation of heritage and the establishment of a company in this area.
It is also an asset to offer a pleasant working environment to retain our staff and to recruit.
This is the image of our flagship.”