DuPont Building & Nemours Building, Wilmington

Dominating an entire city block in downtown Wilmington, the DuPont and Nemours Buildings together form one of the most historically and architecturally significant complexes in Delaware. Constructed in 1908 in the Italian Renaissance style, the original DuPont Building was the city’s first high-rise. It initially served as the headquarters of the influential I.E. du Pont de Nemours and Company and quickly expanded in 1913 and 1923, eventually forming a “U”-shaped structure with 13 floors and a height of 124 feet. The Nemours Building, linked via tunnel and elevated walkway, adds to the interconnected grandeur of this sprawling ensemble overlooking Rodney Square.

At the heart of the building’s history is the Hotel du Pont, which opened in 1913 and has hosted generations of prominent guests. It became a member of the Historic Hotels of America and was the site of notable political events, including Joe Biden’s announcement of his first Senate run in 1972. Alongside the hotel, the DuPont Playhouse-now known as The Playhouse on Rodney Square-was another early addition, adding cultural prestige to the complex.

The DuPont Building remained the company’s headquarters until 2015 when DuPont relocated and its spinoff, The Chemours Company, took over much of the office space. Ownership changed hands in 2018, when local developer Buccini/Pollin purchased the building, pledging to preserve its landmark status while maintaining the hotel and leasing the Playhouse to The Grand Opera House. Today, the building blends history and functionality, housing a hotel, a bank, a theater, and boutique shops that continue to serve visitors and locals alike.

Visitors can enjoy more than the building’s architectural elegance-they can shop for unique gifts, take in a show at the Playhouse, or simply stroll through the grand public spaces that reflect Wilmington’s legacy as a center of innovation and culture.