Chinese children celebrate their earthquake resistant ‘green’ school

May 2008: a deadly earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0 hits China, killing at least 68,000 people. August 2009: marking a new start after the Sichuan earthquake, 2,000 Chinese children start their classes at the new anti-seismic Xinhuamen Primary School, made with steel.

Shortly after the Sichuan earthquake in 2008 caused irreparable damage, the ArcelorMittal Foundation, in cooperation with the Gansu and Luxembourg government, supported rebuilding of the Xinhuamen school.

Besides high resistance to earthquakes, the new building design provides an efficient lay out, low height for safety, energy saving and improved comfort through proper insulation, maximized daylight, natural ventilation and efficient shading. As part of ‘green’ education, students experience first-hand ‘green’ systems at work, which include: solar collector for hot water, rainwater collection system for irrigation and a green roof which reduces temperature in the building and lengthens durability of the roof.

Looking today at children playing or doing gymnastics in the courtyard is a heart-warming experience for all those who participated in the reconstruction of the building. What an earthquake destroyed in only 3 minutes has been rebuilt and improved in only one year. We wish the children of Gansu a very successful new school year!

Collaboration: Lynn Robbroeckx, Media Relations