NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008FOR0151-001741 Nov. 16, 2008	Ministry of Forests and Range
B.C. WOOD BUILDS XIANG’E PRIMARY SCHOOL CAMPUS

DUJIANGYAN, CHINA – Construction has started on an earthquake-resistant school using B.C. lumber that could soon be a model for institutions and residential buildings across China, Forests and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today as he visited the school’s construction site.

 

“The school will provide 540 students with a safe learning environment while making local officials, developers and builders aware of the merits of building with B.C. wood,” said Bell. “The designs can easily be adjusted to meet the style and needs of apartment buildings.”

 

B.C. timber species such as spruce-pine-fir, western red cedar, and yellow cedar will be used to rebuild Xiang’E Primary School and three classroom and administrative buildings, a dormitory, and a cafeteria. About 637,000 board feet of B.C. wood – including laminated veneer lumber, glulam, and oriented strandboard – will be used in the project. The foundation of the new school has already been poured, and construction is expected to be complete in spring 2009.

 

The school’s rebuilding is part of the Canada‐British Columbia Wenchuan Earthquake Reconstruction Project. British Columbia and Canada contributed approximately $1 million in wood materials, design services and technical support.

 

The rebuilding of the area is a centre of attention in the Chinese media and has served to promote the benefits of using advanced wood frame technology and B.C. wood products.

 

Photos from the China trade mission are available online in the Ministry of Forests and Range media room http://www.for.gov.bc.ca/pab/media/.

 

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Media contact:	Sophia Proctor Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Forests and Range 250 387-4592
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