West End Adaptive Reuse
...reimagines an abandoned mill in Providence’s West End as a hybrid housing and community hub for houseless individuals and local residents. Located on a contested site with an established encampment, the design embraces adaptive reuse to preserve place attachment, while introducing resilient systems to support long-term sustainability.
The program includes a range of housing types—emergency, transitional, and permanent—with 68% ADA accessibility. To address the area’s status as a resource desert, the proposal integrates a soup kitchen, co-op market and garden, library, daycare, auditorium, and counseling services.Project Type: Adaptive Reuse
Date Completed: Fall 2021
Location: Providence, RI
Advisor: Almin Pršic
Collaborator: Lily Gucfa
Lobby and Flex
Ground Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
Unit Floor Plans
West End Comic
An 8-page spread was developed to capture the experiential qualities of the West End adaptive reuse project. It follows five fictional residents, each representing a different housing type, as they navigate daily life and interact with on-site resources like the co-op market, greenhouse, daycare, library, and career counseling. Through these perspectives, the narrative illustrates how design supports a diverse community under one roof.
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