MEP Renovations for the Trabant Center, the Epicenter of Activity for the University of Delaware, Wilmington, Delaware

Located on Main Street in the heart of the University of Delaware’s campus, the Trabant University Center is home to multiple student organizations, all five Greek councils, and the offices of event services, activities and programs, and leadership development. It also houses a theater, lounge, multi-purpose rooms, quiet study hall, and an extensive food court with inside and outside seating. Succinctly, the Trabant

University Center is the hotbed of campus activity. A gallery-arcade runs through the heart of the student center, aligning with one of the campus’s dominant pedestrian routes. Along the outside edge of the arcade is a kind of side-aisle, a zone where one can rest or sit to talk, eat, and/or people watch. In contrast, the space on the other side of the arcade is very active with signs proclaiming a variety of eating places, a bookstore, kiosks, and other services. Above, a series of meeting rooms overlooks the gallery. Reinforcing the gala effect of the gallery are banner signs that are decorative or informational. Arches of low-intensity neon tube span the gallery and work to unify the contrasting sides of the space. A secondary route runs east-west to connect a large multi-purpose room, study lounge, auto drop-off, and adjacent parking garage.

The $21 million project created more than 170,000 SF of space for a multitude of facilities, services, and programs enjoyed by the university and community.