Sichuan rises again with wood frame technology

In June 2008, the governments of Canada and British Columbia (BC) unveiled an 8 million Canadian dollar initiative, dubbed Canada-BC Wenchuan Earthquake Reconstruction Project, to provide wood frame buildings for communities in Sichuan devastated by a strong earthquake the month before.

Under an agreement signed with the Chinese government, the Canadian side will provide wood frame buildings for three projects - the Xiang'e Primary School in Dujiangyan, a Special Education School for the Disabled in Mianyang, and an Elderly Care Centre in Beichuan, all located in the hardest hit areas.

The wood frame construction of Xiang'e Primary School started in December 2008 and was completed in July. To implement this project, FII China worked closely with the Shanghai government, which was appointed to be Dujiangyan's reconstruction partner. The school's design was assigned to Tongji University by Shanghai officials.