The entrance hall in Spencer Laboratory has been transformed into a celebration of mechanical engineering with a colorful mural, entitled “Mechanical Engineering: The Liberal Arts of Engineering.”

The mural combined the talents of several UD staff members. The concept came from Sue Coombes, manager of operations in mechanical engineering, who approached Tsu-Wei Chou, Jerzy L. Nowinski Professor of Mechanical Engineering and chairperson of the department, with the idea. Chou organized the content and the message for the mural to convey, and Diane Kukich, research administrator for civil and environmental engineering, wrote the text.

Meanwhile, Coombes had seen the construction site panels on the Mall, giving the historical background of Memorial Hall and DuPont Laboratory designed by Barbara Broge, art director in public relations, and knew she had found the designer. “Barbara understood what we wanted, put it all together with wonderful graphics to support the text and was the major player,” Coombes said.

The project took a year from the rough sketches to the final installation.

The left part of the mural explains what mechanical engineering is all about, the middle section gives the top 10 mechanical engineering achievements of the 20th century, and the right side provides an historical perspective of mechanical engineering at UD.

In a letter of thanks to Broge, Chou wrote “You have managed to showcase our discipline in an exciting look that also encompasses the department’s growth at the University.”

“Many people walk through Spencer Laboratory,” Chou said, “including prospective students and parents, and several events are scheduled here during the year. The installation attracts attention and is an excellent tool to explain what mechanical engineering is all about and its place at the University of Delaware.”

Beside the artistic mural installed in Spencer Laboratory are (from left) Tsu-Wei Chou, Jerzy L. Nowinski Professor of Mechanical Engineering and chairperson of the department; Barbara Broge, art director in public relations/creative services; and Sue Coombes, manager of operations in mechanical engineering.

Feb. 7, 2002