In fact, this might even be one of the first community efforts that opposed a concept that is now known as "urban renewal". The concept of "urban renewal" was a response by mid-20th century urban planners to "urban decline" in American cities, which ultimately lead to the erasure of entire neighborhoods, deepened residential segregation, urban poverty, and racism. In 1943, the Illinois Legislature passed a bill that was meant to preserve the Mecca Flat, but Illinois Governor Dwight Green vetoed the bill and the courts allowed for the demolition of the building in 1952. Knowledge about the design of the Mecca Flats is limited because only black and white photographs survive, making it impossible to know what the exact appearance of the complex was. Although the residents were mostly middle class, the apartments were large. One important aspect in the design and decoration of the Mecca Apartments were the intricately detailed iron guardrails. Also included in the building's design were two sky lit interior courts surrounded by stacked open corridors, which were unique and contributed to the buildings reputation of having no secrets. The design of having an open interior strengthened the presence of social drama because residents were able to observe the actions and lives of the other residents. The residents of the apartment complex were able to enter their homes through open galleries that encircled the interior courts. A popular Chicago vernacular tradition would later be inspired by this design of having a courtyard within an apartment complex. In the late 19th century, the need and want for more light and fresh air for the city's apartments became more pronounced and residents were wanting small parks and playgrounds to be available in the neighborhoods. Overall, the Mecca Flats layout was able to fulfill these progressive concerns though a new and innovative design. In July 2018, construction workers found the tiled floor of the basement at Mecca Flats while they were digging a hole for a pipe while Crown Hall was under construction. This discovery revealed that the overall design of the building included more bright and vivid colors than previously thought. It is assumed that most, if not all, of the building was decorated with similar vibrant colors because the basement tile matches the same pattern as the flooring in the court. The colors of the patterned floor tile that were discovered include blues, oranges, and browns. The construction work being done at Crown Hall was suspended so that a team of historians and urban archaeologists can excavate a portion of the remaining tile. These artifacts will be installed in a permanent exhibit dedicated to the Mecca Flat at the Graham Resource Center once the tiles have been properly preserved.