Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion
Fast Facts
Seated, theater-style:
190 guests
Seated, banquet-style:
140 guests
Cocktail reception:
300 guests
Square feet:
3,171 sq ft
Starting price:
$3,800
About The Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion
If your event needs to work as both a full room and several smaller ones, the Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion is built for exactly that. It’s one of the most flexible large-format spaces at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights, anchored by a 165-inch LED screen built for keynotes, presentations, and livestreams. The space’s bright modern details provide guests a striking first impression.
A folding glass wall lets the Pavilion split into three distinct rooms, known as the Freedom, Hope & Justice Classrooms. This means a conference can run a general session and a set of concurrent workshops without moving to a different building, while a private gathering or gala can open with a full-room reception. A dedicated Green Room gives speakers, performers, or VIP guests a private space to prepare before they’re on.
Outside the Pavilion, the pre-function lobby is a perfect place to set up a table to welcome guests before a reception or check in for a conference. The lobby isn’t reserved exclusively for your event on its own, so if you need more space than the Pavilion provides or want your event completely private, you can choose the Lower Level Buyout. It includes the Pavilion along with the Glenn and the Atlanta Boardroom with exclusive access to the pre-function lobby connecting all three spaces. The buyout also includes the outdoor Georgia-Pacific Fountain Plaza and private event entrance.
With its prime location at the Center, the Pavilion pairs flexibility with a setting that means something, giving your program a backdrop no standard hall can offer.
Freedom, Hope & Justice Classrooms
When your event calls for structured, breakout-style programming, the Pavilion divides into three individual classrooms, the Freedom, Hope & Justice Classrooms, each equipped with a plug-and-play presentation system.
Configure all three for a full day of workshops, classes or training sessions, and use whichever space you’re not actively teaching in for registration, meals, or informal time between sessions. Visiting school groups, corporate seminars, and nonprofit workshops all make regular use of the setup.
If your event only needs one space for a class or session, you may request to reserve one classroom. If you’re looking for a space that’s more refined to host your meeting or workshop, our Atlanta Boardroom is a popular choice and used frequently. If you are hosting an event that doesn’t require the full space of the Pavilion, but calls for more space than the classrooms, the Glenn is a good fit as well.
Seated, classroom-style:
24 guests
(per classroom)
Seated, theater-style:
40 guests
(per classroom)
Seated, banquet-style:
30 guests
(per classroom)
Best for
The Pavilion's size and flexibility make it a fit for every event format we host, including:
- Private & Social Events — large-scale celebrations, concerts, and showcases
- Corporate Events — company-wide celebrations and all-hands events
- Conferences — general sessions and keynotes, or smaller breakout sessions
- Meetings & Workshops — full-day trainings and multi-session programs and workshops
- Nonprofit & Fundraising — large-scale galas built around a mission-driven program
- Holiday Parties — company-wide celebrations with room to run a year-in-review
Helpful Resources
Download our brochure, with photos of the spaces, and our vendor and caterer directory.
frequently asked questions
Can the Pavilion be divided into smaller rooms?
Yes. A folding glass wall splits the hall into three separate breakout spaces, known as the Freedom, Hope, and Justice Classrooms, so you can divide the space into one, two, or three rooms depending on your needs. These classrooms can be individually booked or used together with a full Pavilion rental.
Can I book just one of the Freedom, Hope, and Justice Classrooms on its own?
Yes. The classrooms are available as part of a full Shirley Clarke Franklin Pavilion rental and can also be booked on their own. The Atlanta Boardroom is another option for smaller meetings, workshops, and classes. The Glenn also breaks down into two spaces that can accommodate larger groups.
What presentation equipment is included in each classroom?
Each classroom includes a plug-and-play presentation system, in addition to the Pavilion’s 165-inch LED screen when the space is used as one large room.
Is the LED screen included in the rental?
Yes, the 165-inch LED screen is built into the space and included with every Pavilion rental.
CAN I ADD THE PRE-FUNCTION LOBBY JUST OUTSIDE THE PAVILION TO MY EVENT?
Not on its own. That lobby also serves as access for events happening in the Glenn. For guaranteed exclusive access to your event through the ground floor entrance, book the Lower Level Buyout, which includes the shared lobby along with the Glenn, the Atlanta Boardroom, and the Georgia-Pacific Fountain Plaza.
Can the Pavilion be booked alongside a Glenn rental?
Yes. The Pavilion can serve as a secondary prefunction space for a larger event when you book the Glenn. However, in order to guarantee full privacy for your event, you’ll need to reserve the Lower Level Buyout.
Can I tour the space before booking?
Yes! Reach out and we’ll set up a time to tour it together.