B.C. Wood Used In China Earthquake Recovery

By 250 News

MIANYANG, CHINA - B.C. signed agreements with officials from  Mianyang Municipality and Beichuan County to support the reconstruction of community facilities devastated by the May 2008 earthquake, Forests
and Range Minister Pat Bell announced today.

"I want to thank the governments of Mianyang and Beichuan for affording British Columbia the opportunity to contribute to the rebuilding effort, using North American wood-frame technology," said Bell. "Local residents will benefit from the reconstruction of important community facilities while B.C.'s forest sector stands to benefit by demonstrating how wood-frame construction delivers safe, seismically sound, energy-efficient, multi-storey structures."

The preliminary design for the Beichuan Leigu Town Elderly Care Centre Project includes two buildings for administrative and care facilities, and two to three multi-storey residential buildings for up to 200 seniors left homeless by the earthquake. These buildings would use about 610,000 board feet of B.C. coastal wood and feature traditional Qiang Minority design elements.

The early design for the Mianyang Rehabilitation Centre and School for the Disabled Project includes a multi-storey dormitory, three classrooms, a cafeteria, and a building for staff and administration. These six buildings would use about 745,000 board feet of B.C. wood. In 2005, Prince George signed a friendly economic and trade cooperation agreement with Mianyang, Sichuan's second-largest city.

The projects are part of the $8-million Canada-B.C. Wenchuan Earthquake Reconstruction Commitment.

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