[1][3] In addition to being an admired educational facility, a small plaque on its exterior describes the building's place in the history of telecommunications, noting Alexander Graham Bell's first wireless communication in 1880, where a beam of light was used to transmit a voice message using his newly invented Photophone.

The prominence Franklin School enjoyed was highlighted in the 1870s, when studied in international expositions held in Vienna, Paris, and Philadelphia.

Approved by Bowser's predecessor, Vincent Gray, the project involved a privately funded conversion of the school and had its first event planned for September 2015.

The building's Great Hall was designed to seat 1,000 people and was a resource for community concerts, exhibitions, and public meetings.

"[6] The location of the school in a prominent neighborhood was intended to bring attention to age-graded, separate but equal classrooms for boys and girls.