The rise of online shopping has drastically reduced the need for shopping malls across America. However, in Providence, Rhode Island, the Westminster Arcade, America's first shopping mall, has found a way to turn this supposed "retail apocalypse" into an opportunity to build more housing.
A Country Living article reports that the formerly abandoned mall has been transformed into a new commercial and residential hub for micro-apartment living. Rather than demolishing the building, developers wanted to preserve the structure not only for its historical value, but for its housing potential. Northeast Collaborative Architects along with developer Evan Granoff helped lead a renovation project that aims to transform the aging Greek Revival style mall into The Arcade Providence, a micro-loft apartment complex that includes 48 rentable units along its two upper floors. The former mall was built in 1828 and is designed by American architect Russell Warren of the firm Tallman & Bucklin.
Video courtesy of National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Marketed as "A neighborhood within a neighborhood" on the property's website, the renovation exemplifies "the single most important example of commercial architecture in Providence," according to James Hall, former Director of the Providence Preservation Society. In a statement highlighting the project, Hall continues: "The reopening of the Arcade is a monumental, much–longed for occasion, and a great gift to the residents of the city."
Could the project signal a burgeoning trend for under-performing malls around the country?
Thanks to Country Living posting Fair Companies' video, providing reporting at a programmatic and developmental level that would help other architects suggest similar conversion projects (or weed out unsuitable ones). The film answered some questions I had, such as: Did Providence already have planning approval provisions for microapartments, or was that also new for them? (About 4:00) But there are other architect-level questions that I want the architectural press to ask of these kinds of projects: What about retrofitting fire separation, was that necessary, and how was it done? How much did it cost to make the conversion, and which were the most expensive parts? How is garbage and emergency egress/access handled? What about security?
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It's a far cry to suggest that the adaptive reuse of this building (seemingly built of materials that last and weather well) is indicative of the future of American malls (mostly made from stucco, metal studs, and profiteering).
Wow, this is an awesome old building. Would live in
Thanks to Country Living posting Fair Companies' video, providing reporting at a programmatic and developmental level that would help other architects suggest similar conversion projects (or weed out unsuitable ones). The film answered some questions I had, such as: Did Providence already have planning approval provisions for microapartments, or was that also new for them? (About 4:00) But there are other architect-level questions that I want the architectural press to ask of these kinds of projects: What about retrofitting fire separation, was that necessary, and how was it done? How much did it cost to make the conversion, and which were the most expensive parts? How is garbage and emergency egress/access handled? What about security?
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