“As typical models for environmental protection and energy conservation, the urban renewal projects around Daming Palace bear great significance, since they provide references for the world's efforts toward great site protection and urban renovation." said Gary Locke (Luo Jiahui), of the U.S. Commerce Ministry, over a signing ceremony held at Shanghai World Expo on May 19.

During the ceremony, U.S. MulvannyG2 Architectural Design Company and Xi'an Qujiang Daming Palace Site Area Office of Protection and Renovation signed a cooperative framework agreement on urban renewal projects around Daming Palace.

In the view of Gary Locke, this is a great endeavor, making Daming Palace become the Urban Best Practices Area for China and U.S. environmental protection and energy conservation.

The construction area of this renewal project is expected to be 650,000 square meters, including hotels, apartments, offices and business and other departments. The Daming Palace site area protection and renovation projects have involved a number of international design teams since it began in 2007.

U.S. MulvannyG2 Architectural Design Company is the world's third-largest commercial design company and one of the world’s top 50 architectural firms. In addition, it is also one of the few design companies with 50 states’ vocational qualifications in the United States, and its projects have won several world-renowned design awards. Among the clean energy delegation led by Gary Locke, it is the only construction design company.