Planet Word

The historic Franklin School was designed by Adolf Cluss and originally opened in 1869. It was one of the earliest co-ed high schools. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996. The Renaissance Revival structure is sited across from Franklin Square and named after Benjamin Franklin. It has been reborn as Planet Word, a language arts museum and education space.  

A careful renovation of the five-story space introduced a restaurant, offices, a workshop and conference room, retail space, auditoriums and galleries, a language laboratory, and rotating exhibits. Sensitive additions to the heavily protected building include a fourth-floor event space connected to a new roof terrace. 

The Great Hall is the largest historical space within the building. The ceiling was carefully modified to support the installation of a 15-foot diameter LED planet display. The modifications also achieved the necessary loading capacity for the new event space located directly above in a formerly unused attic. 

Project Highlights:

• The structural scope included strengthening the existing floor structure for higher live loads and new floor structures and elevators. 
• Engineers repaired and preserved the historic roof wood trusses to allow the creation of seven new galleries. 
• Planet Word is recognized as the world’s first voice-activated museum of language. 
• The architect was Beyer Blinder Belle.

Images credit: Joseph Romeo Photography