Through process and product, improving people's lives.
Our Company + Vision
Bensonwood designs homes that matter — to us, to building professionals, to homeowners. Our homes are designed and built sustainably using a whole-house approach that follows the process from design to move-in. Our ultra-precise off-site fabrication makes the entire process not only fast but as low-stress and seamless as possible for both the building professional and the homeowner. Our team of dedicated employees enjoys working on projects of every size and collaborating with both homeowners and designers to make vibrant, lasting, healthy buildings.
Our Vision
A New England Tradition
You can say that Bensonwood’s history began with New England’s building history. The pioneers of this region created durable, honestly-crafted buildings framed in heavy timbers, and held together by mortise-and-tenon joinery. This timber frame form of construction was dominant in buildings in America until the late 1800s. After that, new building methods, the westward expansion and the increasing need to build quickly, slowly led to the demise of the timber framing craft in this country.
In 1974, Tedd Benson became intrigued by these remarkable timber-framed houses and barns — many of which had stood for more than two centuries. Impressed with the durability and beauty of these structures, he worked to revive the ancient craft of timber framing for contemporary homes using modern tools and methods.
His passion for timber framing quickly got the attention of the region’s dedicated woodworkers, and he formed Benson Woodworking Company. Together, Tedd and his co-workers refined the forgotten craft of framing buildings with heavy timbers for modern living. The collaboration of this group led to a series of innovative ideas; many of which are still being used today at Bensonwood. And as the company has grown, the relentless drive and enthusiasm to create better building strategies have continued.
Our Team
Remarkably, some of the original team members that joined Tedd in his timberframe home building adventure have remained with the company after 40+ years. Other employees — from those in manufacturing to architecture and construction — count their employment with Bensonwood not in years, but decades. The longevity and dedication of the Bensonwood team is unusual in the building industry; but we see it as testament to our passion and dedication to building homes that matter.
Tedd Benson
Author, Building Pioneer, Founder, and CEO of Bensonwood & Unity Homes Tedd, founder of Bensonwood (1973) and Unity Homes (2012), has devoted his life to developing a better way to build. Realizing in his youth the undeniable benefits of timber construction, Tedd was a crucial figure in the revival of timber framing in America. He was one of the founders of the Timber Framers Guild of North America (1984) and authored four books on the subject. Through the following decades, Bensonwood established itself as a creative leader in timber frame design, engineering, craftsmanship, and CAD‐CAM technology. This work has taken the company to nearly every state in the U.S. (Oklahoma is a holdout), as well as Canada, England, and Japan.
Today, Bensonwood continues that forward thinking and leadership, not only pioneering the use of Mass Timber and CLT’s in buildings large and small but also turning their focus towards the development of new systems, processes, logistics and technology that focus on making high performance and sustainable homes the industry norm. To that end, Tedd went on to found Unity Homes, a sister company to Bensonwood, and recently developed a state of the art manufacturing facility in Keene, NH. This facility is one of only a few of its kind in the entire country. Tedd is a nationally known speaker and presenter and is the recipient of many awards, including an honorary doctorate from Unity College, and most recently, The Granite State Award in recognition of his statewide and national influence on best building practices.
Bensonwood Today
Today, we have more than 100 people working toward one common goal: to create better homes and commercial structures for a more fulfilling living experience today, and a future that is sustainable for generations.
