Following the May 12 Wenchuan Earthquake, the Government of the People's Republic of China assigned responsibility to major cities and provinces around the country to support reconstruction efforts. Shanghai, as  designated reconstruction partner of Dujiangyan, was assigned responsibility for a number of public projects  including the Xiang'e Primary School.  Located in a rural area of the city,  the school was virtually destroyed during  the earthquake, taking the lives of many students and rescuers. It has captured the attention of the entire country and was personally selected by Mayor Han of Shanghai to be part of Shanghai's phase one reconstruction initiatives.

Shanghai was interested in using seismically safe new technology. The long standing cooperative relationship between the Shanghai Ministry of Construction, Tongji University and the Canadian wood community in China (FII China and Canada Wood Group) provided them the confidence to consider seismically stable wood frame construction.

On August 1, FII China and Shanghai Tongji University signed a memorandum of understanding to collaboratively proceed with this reconstruction project. Under this partnership, Tongji is responsible for design and construction coordination (as appointed by Shanghai MOC) and the Canada/BC initiative will contribute Canadian wood materials, design support and technical supervision of the construction.  Cooperation with Tongji and Shanghai MOC will raise the profile of this project and lend significant credibility to the use of modern WFC in schools, where the concern for safety is a primary issue. Cooperation on the Xiang'e project will also provide a platform to further existing relationships and cooperation with these partners in the Yangtze Delta.

FII China's General Manager Mike Hogan and the Director of Tongji University's Earthquake Reconstruction Steering Committee WU Guangming were signatories of this MOU. Tongji University's Executive Vice President and Deputy Director of Earthquake Reconstruction Steering Committee LI Yongsheng, Consul General of Canada in Shanghai Susan Gregson, and Canada Wood Group's Managing Director Fred Spoke also attended the ceremony.

The MOU stressed that construction of the Xiang'e Primary School Project will use modern wood frame construction technology and high quality Canadian wood materials that will demonstrate the benefits of wood frame construction including seismic stability, energy efficiency, reduced environmental impact, flexible design and fast construction.

The wood frame work of the school started in December 2008. The design of this school provides for nearly 5,300m2 of structures including a mixture of multi-storey classrooms, dormitories and administrative and common area facilities. The school has been successfully completed in mid-August.