You Can Now Live Inside of America's First Shopping Mall

Arcade Providence's iconic Greek Revival exterior.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971 and known as America’s first indoor shopping mall, the Arcade Providence in Rhode Island’s capital city is being recognized yet again, this time for its incorporation of residential micro lofts. The Greek Revival building was designed in 1828 by architects Russell Warren and James Bucklin and has seen its fair share of damage over the years, having endured a fire as well as a few major hurricanes. Thanks to a renovation from Northeast Collaborative Architects, the historic structure now features 48 micro lofts on its second and third floors. Ranging in size from 225 to 450 square feet, these innovative spaces boast built-in furnishings and fully equipped kitchens. (The mall also includes 17 new micro retail spaces on the first floor and a parking garage across the street.) New double-hung windows bring natural light into the revamped interiors, and the building offers on-site laundry, bike storage, and locked basement storage units. The benefits of downsizing to a micro space typically include lower utility bills and a smaller ecological footprint.

A clear view of the mall's three renovated levels.

An example of the built-in furniture that's included in all of the micro-lofts.