Ionic Development Company along with our partner Wade Keating are thrilled to announce our designation as the developer for Parcel 5 in Providence by the 195 District Commission

Providence, RI – Design Center Partners, LLC, a joint venture between Ionic Development Company, a Boston-based, woman-owned development firm, and Wade Keating, a Providence-based architecture firm, has officially been selected by the I-195 Redevelopment District Commission to develop Parcel 5, a 1.5 acre parcel on the east side of the Providence River.

“We are honored to have the Providence Art & Design Center chosen for Providence’s Parcel 5, and we look forward to curating a destination that reflects the values and identity of Providence,” said Kaitlin McCarthy, CEO and founder of Ionic Development Company. “With robust community feedback and support, we’re thrilled to bring this vision to life in a way that showcases Rhode Island talent and further activates Providence’s waterfront.”

“Our goal is to create a destination within the district that supports the mission of innovation and design. While the architecture is important, it’s really this big idea of a place that is for and of the community, creating spaces that are open to the public that connect to all of the other important flows around the site,” said Andrew Keating, architect and principal of Wade Keating.

Chosen out of three finalists and nine original proposals, the Providence Art & Design Center will be a 30,000sf destination for arts, design, and creative retail. Intentionally designed to foster community engagement and economic growth, the center will host gallery space, showcase local designers, and serve as a hub for artistic collaboration. It will also include 150 apartments and 25 condominiums. The Providence Art & Design Center’s pedestrian-centric design was created to deliver on the mission of the I-195 Commission’s Innovation and Design district.

The Providence Art & Design Center seeks to attract a broad range of tenants, building on the list of retailers and organizations already engaged. These include Air & Anchor, DesignxRI, Myrth, Open Projects, and the restaurant Angel’s Kitchen. Throughout the proposal process, Design Center Partners sought out and integrated feedback from local artists and designers to help curate the final vision for the center.

Parcel 5 Rendering