A public art project, "for Mecca," will be unveiled at Illinois Institute of Technology in summer 2025. This inflatable exhibit, created by the Floating Museum art collective, highlights the historical significance of the Mecca Flats building that once stood on the site of S. R. Crown Hall. The exhibit is part of the Floating Monuments series, which aims to bring attention to Chicago's social history through monuments.
The Mecca Flats apartments were constructed in 1892 for visitors to Chicago’s World Fair and later became a cultural hub during Chicago’s Black Renaissance after desegregation in 1911. Despite efforts to preserve them, they were demolished in 1952 for Crown Hall's construction by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Floating Museum describes "for Mecca" as a "ghostly architecture" that serves as a platform for various cultural activities and aims to transform loss into an accessible artifact engaging with local histories.
Co-directors of Floating Museum expressed their intent to create tangible artifacts reflecting Chicago's history. Skyla S. Hearn, co-founder of The Blackivists and lead archivist for the project, emphasized educating people about Mecca Flats' history through primary sourced materials.
The unveiling will include poetry readings and performances by the Center for BLK Verse. On August 9, 2025, from noon to 6 p.m., there will be a multimedia ceremony titled "Mecca in Memory: Public Premiere," featuring sound, spoken word, and a live musical procession.