The Arcade Providence is 188 years old, but it's getting its second wind. 

via Business Insider. Image © Ben Jacobsen/Northeast Collaborative Architects

The Arcade Providence is 188 years old, but it's getting its second wind. This classical Greek structure, which also happens to be America's oldest shopping mall, was renovated into 48 micro-apartments and an assortment of businesses. Northeast Collaborative Architects, who led the redesign, converted the top two floors into apartments and bottom floor into commercial space. As single people increasingly contribute to a large percentage of the population, micro-apartments have proliferated as a housing solution.

Originally designed by Russell Warren and James Bucklin in 1828, the Arcade Providence is almost a monument with its grandiose columns and stone walls. Destined for closure in 2008, preservationists ? who declared it a National Landmark in 1976 ? fought for its revival. Now, after a 10 million dollar makeover, a whopping 4,000 people remain on the building rental's wait-list. 
via Business Insider. Image Courtesy of Rhode Island Archive Collection

via Business Insider. Image © Ben Jacobsen/Northeast Collaborative Architects

The architects confronted the building's antiquated infrastructure by laying down flat rocks and building atop those. The glass-gabled...