Planet Word

Graced with grand windows, intricate ironwork, and lofty ceilings, the landmark Franklin School, home of Planet Word, is a uniquely stunning space for your most important personal and corporate events. From the moment your guests enter the letter-paved lobby, they’ll know they’re in a one-of-a-kind place, surrounded by words and language in the city founded on the written word. Get ready for your guests to be inspired by the power, fun, and beauty of words while you explore our many unique voiceactivated galleries and exhibits. Planet Word is proud to make our spaces available to all who share our mission to renew and inspire a love of words and language. The Mansard Room and Rooftop Terrace: Beautiful exposed beams, wood floors, and frescoed walls make this an unforgettable venue for meetings and celebrations of all sorts. Under a soaring mansard roof, this space can be configured for elegant dinners, performances, meeting, or receptions. A special exhibit commemorates inventor Alexander Graham Bell’s first successful transmission of a “photophone” message from the rooftop of the Franklin School. It can host programming any time of day and includes the use of our Rooftop Terrace. The Bloomberg Philanthropies Great Hall: The Bloomberg Philanthropies Great Hall is the architectural centerpiece of the Franklin School and Planet Word’s showcase venue both day and night. The 5,000-LED globe that anchors the Spoken World exhibit becomes a stunning chandelier as it rises at the touch of a button up to the towering 22-foot-high ceiling. With fourteen-foot windows overlooking Franklin Square, trompe l’oeil frescoes, and a historic proscenium, the elegant, versatile it is unlike any other event space in Washington. The Friedman Family Auditorium: This 150-seat, beautifully appointed auditorium serves as a venue for our public programming — film screenings, author book talks, educator convenings, + more. The space includes a dedicated AV booth and a greenroom.