On Tuesday June 10th The Franklin Institute officially unveiled their newest wing, the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion. The pavilion features a conference center with meeting and educational program space on the first floor, permanent exhibit space for “The Brain” on the second floor, and a special traveling exhibit space on the third floor that is currently featuring “Circus! Science Under the Big Top.”
The Lighting Practice was part of the design team led by Saylor Gregg Architects. 
TLP designed the lighting for the conference center as well as the permanent and flexible exhibit spaces. The Lighting Practice was also responsible for the exterior landscape and hardscape lighting, the conference center terrace, the new garage exit, and the pavilion facades including The Shimmer Wall. The Lighting Practice is thrilled to have been a part of such an exciting and fun project!
Franklin Institute Carves into Your Brain
JONATHAN TAKIFF, Daily News Staff Writer, 215-854-5960
Posted: Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 3:01 AM
THE BRAIN. It’s how we perceive and create our world. It’s our motivator and best protector – and sometimes our undoing.
All this and more are explored in the super-spiffy interactive exhibit opening Saturday at the Franklin Institute – a $10 million installation celebrating “Your Brain.” It’s the big come-on of the Institute’s new, 53,000-square-foot addition: the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion.
An entertaining hands-on, eyes-on, full-body experience demonstrating how our noggins’ work, “Your Brain” – and the three-story museum addition that houses it – culminates seven years of planning and a whole lot of fundraising by the museum, explained incoming president/CEO Larry Dubinski. A capital campaign, “Inspire Science,” raised $65.2 million. Of that, the Karabots Pavillion and “Your Brain” claimed about $41.5 million.
All this reaffirms the educational commitment, leadership and broad appeal of our 80-years-young, nationally prominent science museum – a delight and inspiration for busloads of school kids, and for grown-ups, too.
“We’re Philadelphia’s most popular destination for tourists after the Independence Hall historic district,” Dubinski noted.
Think about it
“Your Brain” was a “natural” realm for inquiry, added Franklin Institute senior vice president Dr. Frederic Bertley. “It’s important work touching on the frontiers of science, where discoveries are still being made.”
So, while “Your Brain” is a permanent exhibit, it’s also a work in progress.
Read the full article: Franklin Institute Carves into Your Brain
4 Epic Adventures in a Whole New Wing from Ben Franklin on Vimeo.