A joint project between ANZ, BlueScope Steel and Allens Arthur Robinson to rebuild a school severely damaged in last year’s Sichuan earthquake has been officially opened in the Chinese city of Mianyang. The three Australian businesses worked in partnership with the Mianyang government to rebuild six classrooms for the Yangjia Middle School in Mianyang City. The new section of the school – now known as the ANZ Building – has been built with BlueScope Steel’s high-quality, recyclable materials, including Australia steel,  which has been designed to withstand earthquakes of magnitude eight.

The project also helped to develop new construction skills among the city’s local construction workers.

Under the partnership, ANZ donated RMB1 million (A$190,000) to fund the project with BlueScope Steel supplying the building materials and overseeing construction.

The Mianyang Government has funded the building’s fit out and Allens Arthur Robinson provided pro bono legal advice.
The opening ceremony was attended by Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Fucheng District, Xi Shihong, Australian Ambassador to China, Geoff Raby and ANZ CEO, Mike Smith.

Mianyang City Vice Mayor Huang Zhengliang said the project had given the community back one of its important focal points. “We are forever grateful for the generosity of these Australian companies which have helped us to rebuild this local school. Our schools are an essential foundation for our community now and into the future,” Mr Huang said.

ANZ will donate a further RMB 80,000 (A$15,000) in new furniture for the school and provide 340 school backpacks kitted with stationery and dictionaries for students.