Planet Word

Washington, DC

Cultural Historic Preservation Museums & Institutions Adaptive Reuse

Planet Word: Planet Word Franklin School DC

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Client

Franklin School Development, LLC

Size

53,244 SF

BBB revitalized D.C.’s historic Franklin School as a home for Planet Word, the world’s first voice-activated museum of language.

Planet Word brings language to life through interactive galleries, which empower visitors to use their own voices to activate exhibits. BBB developed and designed the preservation and rehabilitation of the National Historic Landmark, a Renaissance Revival building designed by Adolf Cluss. Opened in 1869 as the flagship of a forward-thinking public education network, the former school was chosen to house Planet Word for its rich history of education and innovation.

BBB led the project’s historic and regulatory reviews and consulted with numerous regulatory and advisory groups, as well as collaborated with Local Projects, the lead experience designer.

Planet Word: PlanetWord PLP Library Int01 Copy

Planet Word: PlanetWord PLP Gallery TalkingWall Int01 Copy

Planet Word: PlanetWord PLP Gallery JokeRm Int01 Copy

The Great Hall, a preeminent space in the building, was rehabilitated and now serves as both an event space and the Spoken World gallery, featuring a floating kinetic sculpture. In addition to comprehensive preservation and design solutions throughout Planet Word, BBB’s work included integration of energy-efficient building systems, the repositioning of the entrance to create an inviting and accessible gateway, interior design and furniture selection, and environmental graphics.

Planet Word: PlanetWord SS GreatHall Int04 Copy

Courtesy Local Projects, Ray Whitehouse

Planet Word: PlanetWord SS GreatHall Int07 Copy

Courtesy Local Projects, Ray Whitehouse

Sculpture: Rafael Lozano-Hemmer

Project Credits

BBB Partner-in-Charge

Hany Hassan

BBB Team

Maxwell Blakeney
Katie Hummelt
Rachel Pierce
Cristina V. Radu
Andrew Reynolds
Caroline VanAcker

Lead Experience Designer

Local Projects

Structural

Silman

MEP/FP

Global Engineering Solutions

Civil Engineering

Wiles Mensch Corporation

Conservation Consultant

EverGreene Architectural Arts

Lighting

MCLA Architectural Lighting Design

Geotechnical

ECS Capitol Services, PLLC

Acoustics

Polysonics

Code/Life Safety

Jensen Hughes

Vertical Transportation

Vertran Enterprises

General Contractor

Whiting-Turner

Photography

©Joseph Romeo;
Courtesy Local Projects, Ray Whitehouse (before/after photo)

Awards & Press

AIA|DC

Design Award for Historic Resources & Preservation

Building Design+Construction

Reconstruction Award (Silver)

NAIOP MD | DC Chapter

Award of Excellence for Best Renovation (Historic Preservation)

Interaction Design Association

Interaction Award for Connecting, Expressing

Washington Building Congress

Craftsmanship Award (Ceramic Tile and Terrazo)

DrivenxDesign

2020 New York Design Award, Environmental Design

Metropolis

A School From the 1860s Is Transformed into a Museum of Language

architectsdatafile.co.uk

Beyer Blinder Belle revitalises historic Franklin School, new home to Planet Wordm D.C.’s inaugural language-arts museum

The Washington Post

The latest word on Planet Word: Downtown D.C.’s language museum is set to open in May

Curbed DC

Planet Word museum to open downtown next spring

Contract Magazine

Construction Begins on Beyer Blinder Belle’s Planet Word Museum in Washington, D.C.

National Trust for Historic Preservation

From Classrooms to Language Museum: D.C.’s Historic Franklin School Has New Purpose

Planet Word

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