My first choice would be Larry Niven's "Known Space." A wide range of races and a long stretch of history (especially if you factor in the "Man-Kzin War" series of books.)
My second nomination is the either the "Confederation" or "Commonweatlh" universes created by Peter F. Hamilton. Both authors create very detailed worlds in which the aliens really are alien, not just Green Bug Eyed Humans.
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