Creating a Social Space Worthy of the Smithsonian
When the U.S. Chamber of Commerce began a building renovation project in Lafayette Square in the spring of 2020, they did what all companies do and put up a plywood wall surrounding the construction site. Shortly thereafter, our experiential graphics team installed outdoor vinyl graphics over the plywood to brand the facade. Neither we nor our client could have imagined what this simple wall would become.
A few days later, Lafayette Square was the site for one of the largest Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd. Over the course of several weeks, demonstrators attached their posters to the wall surrounding the construction site. It became a de facto art gallery bearing hundreds of individual stories, emotions, and messages, capturing this moment in history.
In August 2020, the U.S. Chamber announced that it was partnering with the DC Public Library, Howard University, and several other area museums and institutions to preserve and curate the artwork for generations to come. You can read more about the Chamber’s plans in their press release.