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NEW BEGINNING

A new Planetary Society headquarters building is on track to be ready by mid-July. The building, which once was a bank on S. Los Robles, is being converted into a contemporary office space customized for the unique needs of The Planetary Society.

The new location will house the society’s membership, development, and communications staff members. A portion of the building will be allocated for Planetary Radio and Planetary TV. The old bank vault is slated to become a studio, with adjacent space for producers to plan, edit, and store equipment.

Jennifer Vaughn, the chief operating officer at The Planetary Society, talked about the society’s vision for the new building that will provide a balance of collaborative and private working space:

Around the building’s perimeter, we have private offices and meeting spaces for staff leading some of our key programs, like Science and Technology and Advocacy. Just off the lobby, we have a large project room to be used for our local volunteer meetings and educational projects. We’re building a conference room with easy-to-access video conferencing so we can work more effectively with our remote colleagues. We will also have a staff room for casual conversations and brainstorming.

Over the next few months, public exhibits will be added to the lobby. The Society’s headquarters building is primarily a working office space that often shows-up in many of their videos. “We still want it to be a good place to visit,” Said Vaughn, “we always enjoy meeting our members, supporters, and new friends. If you find yourself in or near Pasadena, consider stopping by to say hello.”

The building is expected to be fully functional in July, but won’t be ready for a public opening until this fall. An open house and a 35th Anniversary celebration are planned on October 24th. You can add your name or message in front of the new building by buying a brick (or bricks) here.

The new building at 60 S. Los Robles, will be the fifth address for Planetary Society HQ.

Bill Nye is the CEO of The Planetary Society. Its mission is to empower the world’s citizens to advance space science and exploration. Find out more about The Planetary Society on planetary.org.