The Center is expanding to realize our founders’ vision of becoming a nationally recognized educator and convener for civil and human rights. We are building two new wings to better serve our community as a museum and cultural hub that preserves the truth of history and inspires changemakers to protect rights.
The Center is closed for expansion until Fall 2025, but you can explore our new wings below and track our progress live on the Expansion Camera.
Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion
We are proud to announce the upcoming opening of the Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Named in honor of former Mayor Shirley Clarke Franklin, whose visionary leadership helped bring the Center to life, this new pavilion will serve as a flexible space for classrooms, performances, and events. The pavilion will also feature an outdoor event space and a new ticketing experience. This expansion is part of our ongoing commitment to inspire the changemaker in every visitor, continuing the legacy of leadership and advocacy that Mayor Franklin has championed throughout her career. We look forward to welcoming you to the newly expanded Center in Fall 2025.
Arthur M. Blank Inspiration Hall
The Arthur M. Blank Inspiration Hall will be a dynamic new addition to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, expanding our ability to educate and inspire visitors. Named in honor of Arthur M. Blank, this wing will feature a café and three engaging new galleries. A Family Gallery on the lobby level will provide immersive, hands-on experiences designed to introduce children under 12 to the principles of rights and justice. Another gallery will explore the history and legacy of the Reconstruction Era, featuring artifacts from the Without Sanctuary collection. A Special Exhibitions Gallery will host traveling and rotating exhibitions, bringing fresh perspectives on civil and human rights to our visitors. This expansion supports our ongoing mission to connect history with contemporary movements and inspire action. We look forward to welcoming guests to the new space when we reopen in Fall 2025.
Get Involved
Be among the first to experience the expanded National Center for Civil and Human Rights when we reopen in Fall 2025! Sign up using the form below to receive exclusive updates on membership opportunities, special events, and new exhibits. To learn more about our exciting expansion, including the newly announced Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion and Arthur M. Blank Inspiration Hall, read the full press release here. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this next chapter—sign up today!
You can make history at the Center by adding your name to our wall! Contribute to our Fulfilling the Vision community campaign to support our expansion and our mission.
With your gift, we will recognize you on our beautiful mosaic donor wall in our expanded museum.
Purchase a tile and add your name.
Our two-wing, 28,733-square-foot expansion includes:
ATELIER BRÜCKNER
Role: Exhibition Design
ATELIER BRÜCKNER is one of the worldwide leaders in exhibition design. Founded in 1997, the office—based in Stuttgart and Seoul—is run by Shirin Brückner, Prof. Eberhard Schlag, Britta Nagel and René Walkenhorst. 120 employees contribute to the development of narrative spaces for museums, brand and visitor centers. We focus on communicating content in an emotional way with long-lasting experience. Among our current large-scale projects are the Museum of the Future in Dubai and the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Notable past projects include the Visitor Centre of the European Parliament opened in Brussels. Opened in 2011, the exhibition is provided in 24 languages.
DaVinci Development
Role: Project Developer Manager
DaVinci Development Collaborative, LLC (DaVinci) is a boutique real estate advisory firm located in Atlanta, Georgia. Founded in 2014, DaVinci’s underlying thesis is to take real estate development to a more thoughtful and disciplined platform. We are committed to solving complex real estate challenges and to empowering teams to create value and enrich the communities served by our clients. DaVinci believes that with vision, buildings, and the spaces they create have the power to help communities thrive today – and flourish tomorrow.
We guide clients on a proven, customizable, phase-gate process to turn ideas into market-based strategies through our Development Advisory and our Development Management services. We provide oversight for the lifespan of a project from vision to implementation to execution through a rigorous Investment Check Points process to consistently deliver projects on time and budget.
Juneau Construction Company
Role: Building Construction
Juneau Construction Company was founded in 1997 by husband-wife team, Les and Nancy Juneau. With offices in Atlanta, Miami and Tampa, Juneau performs as Construction Managers, Design-Builders and General Contractors on both public and private project types across the Southeast. Juneau works with clients who align with our mission, core purpose and values to provide best in class projects in the Commercial, Higher Education, Hospitality, Multifamily, Mixed-Use, and Student Housing markets, along with a client experience that builds relationships and fosters partnerships where clients want to work with Juneau again and again. Juneau Construction Company has earned the #2 spot on Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Top Woman-Owned firm list, along with spots on their top Private Companies and Top Commercial Contractors lists. Juneau is also nationally recognized by ENR and BD+C as a Top General Contractor.
At Juneau our mission is simple, yet profound: we strive to be best in class, while promoting family, teamwork and a dedication to construction excellence. Our firm is energetic and passionate about solving the most difficult challenges in new and exciting ways, while at the same time building projects that leave every single community we work in better than we found them.
Perkins&Will
Role: Architect
At Perkins&Will, our goal is to design places that make a positive difference in the world. That’s why people are at the heart of everything we do. Our work impacts lives through sustainability, resilience, well-being, diversity, inclusion, and research. There’s so much more to architecture than what meets the eye. It has the power to inspire joy, uplift lives, and strengthen the spirit of a community. Every place has it’s own story. We work with cultural institutions to tell their singular stories and shape experiences that promote understanding of self, appreciation of community, and empathy for others.
Solomon Group
Role: Exhibit Fabrication
Solomon Group is home to passionate teams of creators, technologists, producers, and fabricators of experience who thrive on the complexity of delivering what’s next.
We leverage our range and talent to produce experiences that matter. From the biggest ephemeral live moments to sustainable timeless exhibitions, we turn artistic vision into cultural realities.