The tremendous loss of life and property caused by the 5.12 Sichuan Wenchuan Earthquake reveals the absence of decent structural design and adequate monitoring of the construction process in the region. Reconstruction has been difficult and a large number of temporary shelters that are neither durable nor thermally comfortable have been built in an attempt to meet the urgent needs of those affected. These shelters, when demolished later, will give rise to new construction waste.

A research team led by Prof. Zhu Jingxiang of the School of Architecture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has developed an integrated light-structure system for the reconstruction of New Bud Primary School at Xiasi village in Sichuan’s Jiange County. The old building suffered serious damage in the earthquake, so its students had to walk for an hour to attend classes in another school. With the support of the Hong Kong Dragon Culture Charity Fund and the CUHK New Asia Sichuan Redevelopment Fund, the new school was completed in just two weeks and has been in operation since September. The building is safe and durable, and the cost of construction is low. It also looks attractive and features good thermal performance and a high energy-saving capacity.

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The primary load-bearing part of the school is a light-gauge steel frame, which is strengthened by a prefabricated panel system. These two parts are bound together by mechanical fasteners to form a strong but light composite structure. Although the wall is only 16cm thick, the system is able to resist high seismic forces. Under the protection of the outer panel and surface coating, the life of the skeleton is expected to last over 20 years.

The school features high thermal performance, thanks to the use of thermal insulation and storage materials. It also adopts a multi-layered envelope system where the position and ratio of the doors and windows are carefully designed to ensure that classrooms will be cool in summer and warm in winter. The decentralized opening system brings in enough day-light and natural ventilation, which greatly reduces energy consumption.

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Additionally, the design incorporates environmental concepts by mostly using mechanical joints instead of chemical compounds to avoid toxic emission and to facilitate maintenance and disassembly in the future. A solar water heater and an eco-friendly toilet are equipped to improve rural sanitation.