On May 12, 2008 more than 7000 schools collapsed during the catastrophic Wenchuan earthquake that killed 5,335 students (officially) and displaced millions from homes and schools throughout the earthquake affected region. Thousands of other schools escaped collapse, but sustained significant structural damage and have been deemed unsafe. A massive international effort is underway to rebuild schools in the earthquake impacted area.
Imagine sustainable schools emerging from the rubble that enable students to return to safe, healthy and energy efficient schools designed and built to last and to provide sustainability-focused learning opportunities for students and communities.
Our stretch vision is for a safer and sustainable rebuilding of schools – with enhanced seismic safety, energy efficiency, and healthy building materials – at an affordable cost so that these sustainable features can become a “standard” for future construction.
The China – U.S. Center for Sustainable Development needs your support as we seek this vision for the children of China and the planet. Please join this effort by making a tax-deductible donation today!
The Center has public-private partnerships in place with China’s national and provincial authorities responsible for reconstruction – including the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the Ministry of Education, the Sichuan Provincial Government and the Chongqing Municipal Government. A joint China – U.S. design/build team has been established to lead the technical effort. The goals:
- Design and construct a school in the earthquake stricken area using the sustainable guidelines developed by a China – U.S. design team
- Share information about the design and construction process, extend lessons learned, and create opportunities for collaboration
- Refine the design guidelines and architectural system
- Share training and technical assistance with local governments, school districts and designers/contractors who wish to incorporate the design guidelines and architectural system into other schools and public buildings
- Use the school design and building to educate students and community in the principles and practices of sustainability
In response to the devastating earthquake, the China – U.S. Center has assembled an innovative and experienced team of sustainability professionals to help rebuild schools sustainably. The team includes architects, engineers, planners, seismic specialists, developers, construction managers, energy specialists, and landscape designers:
The earthquake was tragic beyond words, but given the scale of the impacts and the massive need for rebuilding, there is a precious opportunity to find pathways to influence a “greener” and more sustainable rebuilding of thousands of schools and public buildings. The social, educational, economic and environmental benefits of shifting from a “rebuild-as-usual” response to a “rebuild sustainably” response could have multiple ripple effects.
The sustainable features being considered for the design include passive heating and cooling, renewable energy systems, day lighting, shading and light reflecting devices, eco-effective insulation, green roofs, efficient appliances and fixtures, onsite storm water management, native landscaping and salvaged building materials. Beyond the built environment, it is anticipated that sustainability will also be woven into the school’s curriculum and operations.
In August 2007, a workshop for the design of a rural village school was organized by Tongji University’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning in Shanghai and sponsored by the China-US Center for Sustainable Development with lead funding from the Heinz Family Philanthropies and BP China. Participants included architecture students and faculty from Tongji, Tsinghua University in Beijing, the University of Virginia and the University of Oregon. The purpose of the workshop was to support international collaboration to incorporate sustainable design strategies into a rural school. The workshop successfully achieved its goal – developing conceptual designs for an elementary school that is both ecologically intelligent and cost effective. Drawing on the results of the workshop, a team of architects and engineers from Tongji University’s College of Architecture prepared a more detailed schematic design for a rural sustainable school. Fundraising for this school was about to begin when a catastrophic earthquake destroyed thousands of schools in Southwestern China.
The project immediately shifted focus to the earthquake-stricken region in and around Sichuan Province to support the incredible effort necessary to rebuild schools and communities. Understanding the magnitude of the destruction, there is a unique opportunity to find pathways to demonstrate eco-effective site development, design and building practices. Greener standards in the rebuilding of thousands of schools and public buildings could dramatically reduce energy use, cut carbon emissions and pollution, and create buildings that are in harmony with the natural environment and safe for children.
The target is USD 2.5 million to achieve the initial goals of this program.
Contributions may be in the form of cash, in-kind services and/or technologies and materials. Please join us today in supporting this hopeful school for the children of China and the planet. You may donate in the following ways:
• Send a check to “Rebuilding Schools Sustainably – China US Center,” China US Center, One World Trade Center, 121 SW Salmon, Suite 210, Portland, Oregon 97204.
• Wire transfer – please contact Ms. Lin Zuo at the Secretariat for the account information:
• Secure credit card payment through PayPal – with or without a PayPal account – by clicking the “Donate” link on this page
All contributions are tax deductible to the full extent of US law. The US Secretariat for the China US Center – The International Sustainable Development Foundation – is a 501 © (3) non profit organization dedicated to helping create a world where commerce, communities and nature can thrive in harmony.
For more information about this project and how to make a tax deductible donation, please contact
Ms. ZUO, Lin
China – U.S. Center for Sustainable Development
One World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon St. Suite 210
Portland, Oregon 97204
1-503-279-9383
Ms. XIE, Xi
China – U.S. Center for Sustainable Development
8 South Yuyuantan Road, Suite 610
Haidian District, Beijing 100038
People’s Republic of China
86-10-5888-4882