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Structures on All
Sides
If you were to contemplate the word structure, what
would come to mind first? Would you think of the framework
of a well-planned term paper, the outline of an old mansion,
or a popular clothing store for men? Now think a little
longer: the chair you are sitting in, the bookshelf in your
room, the building enclosed around you; countless structures
are a part of your everyday environment! The Franklin
Institute Science Museum is a place certainly not lacking
interesting structure.
Here at The Franklin Institute, fascinating
architecture—whether it be a particular part of a room
or an exhibit structure—is situated in each hall,
standing tall around every corner. If you have already
visited, you'll probably recognize some of these familiar
forms. If you haven't been to the Museum, these structures
may interest you enough to come and see them for yourself.
Benjamin Franklin National Memorial Hall, designed by
the architect John T. Windrim, houses perhaps the grandest
structure in the Museum. James Earle Fraser sculpted the 20-foot
statue of a seated Franklin from 122 tons of white
Seravezza marble. Memorial Hall is 82 feet in length, width,
and height. Rare marbles from Italy, France, and Portugal
construct many of the structures in the Hall, which was
built in imitation of Rome's Pantheon. The self-supporting
dome of the ceiling weighs about 1600 tons.
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The outside of The Franklin Institute is a structural wonder
all its own. Windrim designed the building in the Classical
Revival or "Classical Beaux-Arts" tradition. The entrance
facing 20th Street is very impressive; it is made of buff
Indiana limestone. The base and the exterior steps were
fashioned out of Milford pink granite. The cornerstone for
the current location of the Museum (20th Street and the
Benjamin Franklin Parkway) was laid in 1932.
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The Bartol Atrium is the place where you will most likely
begin your exploration of The Franklin Institute. It is
surrounded by activity on all sides: The Tuttleman IMAX
Theater, ticketing and information booths,
and exhibit space make it a central hub of the Museum. The
Bartol Atrium's most prominent structure cannot go unnoticed; a huge
ramp wraps around the entire room, leading visitors down,
across, and all around. Check out this view of The Bartol Atrium
and inspect the structures on your own.
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The Foucault Pendulum is a structure that can be seen
from several floors of the Museum. Located in the center of
the Pendulum Staircase, you can view the Pendulum in
perpetual motion from the third floor all the way down to
the ground level. To view the Pendulum or learn more about
it, follow the links below.
Pendulum QuickTime movie
Learn
more about the Foucault Pendulum.
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The Tuttleman IMAX Theater, a domed theater
built in May of 1990, has a four-story domed screen,
complete with fifty-six speakers, to make your movie-going
experience seem like real life. This structure is definitely
a feature of The Franklin Institute that you won't want to
miss, as it takes you in and makes you feel like a climber
on the trek up Mount Everest or a traveler on the journey to
one of "The Greatest Places."
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The Fels Planetarium was the first section of The
Franklin Institute to be completed in the early 1930s, and
only the second planetarium built in America. This structure
has a Digistar projection system, projecting onto an iron
metal sheet dome, which is 45 feet from floor to crown. In
the Planetarium, you can see everything from the night skies
to laser light shows.
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Many of The Franklin Institute's exhibits include structures
of all types and sizes. Second floor Bioscience allows you
to walk through a human heart 220 times its original size.
The Train Factory (on the 1st floor) houses a giant Baldwin
Locomotive, and fourth floor Astronomy has a huge telescope
for checking out the skies. There are many other exhibit
structures to examine and try out, but you'll have to visit
The Franklin Institute if you are curious about them!
The world is full of amazing structures to be seen, studied,
and appreciated. Did you ever wonder about the actual steps
involved in achieving a completed structure? All around us,
structures come in many different sizes and shapes. Bridges,
dams, skyscrapers, tunnels, towers, and various types of
buildings all have specially designed layouts and forms.
Architects, structural engineers, and artists have carefully
planned each project before it is built. Many things must be
considered in such an undertaking, such as what materials
will be used or how structural damage in the event of, for
instance, an earthquake, can be planned for. These are just
a few of the issues that must be thoroughly examined.
We've built a little something of our own by constructing a
hotlist of numerous structure sites. Go to a particular
section of structural interest, or browse all the links for
a variety of information!
Bridges
Believe it or not, there are many different ways to build a
bridge: arch, beam, suspension, and cable-stayed are the
main types. Explore resources that will introduce you to the
fascinating world of bridges!
Skyscrapers
How tall is the tallest building? When was the first
modern
skyscraper built? Are there disagreements about which city
actually has the tallest structure? Answer all of your tall
questions by looking over the skyscraper links.
Large Structures
The world is full of grand, impressive structures. Whether
you go under a New York City street, see a massive dam, or
learn about one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,
you won't believe what enormous things have been
constructed.
Small Structures
Not all of these are exactly "small," but they are
structures of a somewhat smaller degree than towers and
skyscrapers. Have you ever heard of a yurt? Did you know
that some people live in COB houses? Find out about these
and other "specialized" structures.
Structures in School
Explore some fun new ways to teach and learn about
structures and science.
Materials
Most structures don't just appear; they have to be built
with specific materials. Discover how wood, metals, and
other substances are used in the building process.
General Architecture
Without architecture and architects, we wouldn't have the
ability to build most structures. Browse some general
architecture links to learn about what architects do and how
they do it.
Art Resources
This is a collection of various art resources, games,
educational sites, and online galleries. Learn to make the
important connection between art and science.
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For another glimpse of the structural world
around us, take a look at
Structures.
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