UD breaks ground on Biden Hall
Photos by Evan Krape November 09, 2026
New home for UD’s Biden School will advance public policy, civil discourse and community engagement
The University of Delaware broke ground on Nov. 9 on Biden Hall, the future home of the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration. The new building will provide space to prepare future leaders, advance research and foster civil discourse.
Named for former President Joe Biden, a UD alumnus, the approximately 30,000-square-foot facility will be located on the South Green between Morris Library and Robinson Hall. As the final planned building on UD’s iconic Green, Biden Hall will mark a significant milestone in the evolution of the University’s historic campus. The building is slated to open in fall 2029.
“In a time when civil discourse feels fragile, when the belief that people can talk to each other across differences feels, some days, like an act of faith, Biden Hall will be a place where students, faculty, researchers and the community will come together to do that work,” UD President Laura Carlson said.
At UD, Biden developed an understanding of how political engagement can drive meaningful change and empower individuals to help address challenges in their communities and the world.
“It’s the job of this University to help students make sense of the world around them — to prepare students as it prepared me to get engaged,” Biden said. “Biden Hall will be a place for students to answer for themselves and for this country: Who are we? What do we stand for? What do we believe? And maybe more importantly: Who are we going to be?”
Biden Hall will serve as an interdisciplinary hub for the social sciences, bringing together scholars, practitioners, students and community partners to advance teaching, research and public engagement.
“Faculty, staff and students come to the Biden School because they believe government can work, that public policy can change lives and that public service is a noble profession,” said Joseph Trainor, dean of the Biden School. “There is no better name to affix to a building dedicated to that belief than Joseph R. Biden, Jr., a son of Delaware and a man who has devoted his entire life to bipartisan public service with integrity and an unshakable faith in the American people.”
The project is supported through philanthropy and state funding, reflecting a shared investment in the future of public service education at UD.
“Biden Hall is a testament to President Biden’s unwavering commitment to the people of Delaware,” said Gov. Matt Meyer. “As the new home of the University of Delaware’s Biden School, Biden Hall will help prepare our next generation of leaders to serve our nation with conviction and integrity."
Preparing future leaders
Inside Biden Hall, students will have opportunities to apply classroom learning through policy labs, internships, research projects, leadership programs and community partnerships. Graduates will be prepared for careers in public service and leadership positions across government, nonprofit organizations, healthcare, education and the private sector.
“Throughout his life, President Biden has shown us again and again how to keep an open mind, bring people together, and find ways for every American to reach for any possibility,” said Sen. Chris Coon. “Biden Hall will bring those lessons together, under one roof, so generations can learn from his extraordinary legacy. I’m grateful to UD for all they’ve done to bring this project to life.”
Public service and civil discourse will be central to Biden Hall’s mission. The building will house the Biden Institute and serve as the permanent home of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Ithaca Initiative. Through programs offered by both initiatives, students will connect with public leaders and practitioners, participate in policy development and implementation, and learn to facilitate meaningful dialogue across differences.
A dedicated health wing will expand Biden Hall’s role in research and community engagement. It will house a Center for Women’s Health and an Office for Military and Veterans Affairs, while also serving as a hub for health policy and outreach. Flexible spaces will bring researchers and community partners together to conduct research and translate findings into policies and practices that improve lives.
“Joe Biden is one of our most distinguished alumni, and he has never stopped being a Blue Hen,” Carlson said. “Biden Hall will be his legacy on this campus.”
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