Nation’s Oldest Indoor Shopping Mall Being Renovated Into Micro Apartment Building

The <a href="http://www.arcadeprovidence.com/" target="_blank">Providence Arcade</a> was the US's first indoor shopping mall, and it will soon be transformed into a new micro apartment building complex. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Arcade" target="_blank">historic building</a> is currently undergoing a renovation that will transform the top two floors of offices and retail space into efficiency apartments available at reasonable rents. Developed by Evan Granoff, the revival project will make the building useful once again while supporting the new space living trend.

Built in 1828, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Arcade" target="_blank">Providence Arcade (also called the Westminster Arcade)</a> was the country's first indoor shopping mall and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

The historic structure is notable for its classic Greek architecture, Ionic columns and its large central atrium lit from above with <a href="http://inhabitat.com/tag/daylighting" target="_blank">skylights</a>.

The ground floor featured larger retail with the upper two floors filled with offices and smaller shops.

It was closed in 2008 to undergo renovation and along the way it was decided to turn the upper floors into apartments.

The nature of the layout and size of the spaces made it an easy fit for micro apartments or efficiency apartments.

The <a href="http://www.arcadeprovidence.com/" target="_blank">Providence Arcade</a> was the US's first indoor shopping mall and is soon to be a new micro apartment building complex. Currently undergoing renovation, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_Arcade" target="_blank">historic building</a> is transforming the top two floors of offices and retail space into efficiency apartments at reasonable rents. The revival project is developed by Evan Granoff and is making the building useful once again with the help of the new small space living trend.

A view of the large arcade from the top floor.

A view into the model apartment from the interior walkway.

The efficiency kitchen and bedroom.

The micro apartment living room includes built in storage.

Rendering of the efficiency kitchen.

2nd floor apartment layout.

Natural daylight hits the interior of the building through the large skylight.