Brandon’s Seeds to grow into senior housing

BRANDON — The transformation of McKenzie Seeds into seniors housing is a step closer now that the sale of the long vacant downtown building to Blackbird Housing Inc. has been finalized.

“We acquired the property from Brandon Fresh Farm about three months ago for $3.25 million,” president Paul Souque said. “Attainable senior living is our goal.”

The proposed development includes about 130 residential suites, medical and wellness-related commercial spaces and amenities such as a 10,000-square-foot rooftop deck. Developers are exploring partnerships with senior housing operators who could lease and operate portions of the facility once construction has been completed.

Souque said the $20-million project is fully funded through the company’s partnerships and does not require public money.

The project centres on converting the historic industrial property into an “adaptive reuse housing project” focused on affordable and technology-driven senior living, he said.

Construction Association of Rural Manitoba executive director Shawn Wood said increased residential development downtown would benefit the city.

“The more population we have downtown, the safer people feel,” Wood said. “It’s good convenience, supporting local businesses.”

Brandon architect and downtown resident Michael Cox, who worked on repairs to the building in 1981, welcomed the prospect of renewed activity downtown.

“Any kind of development that brings more people living and working downtown is great for the city,” Cox told the Sun. “If it happens there, that’s a bonus.”

Cox recalled that the building was fully operational during his work on the property in the early 1980s, when McKenzie Seeds still operated its seed packaging and distribution business.

“I’m excited about it, not as an architect, but as somebody who lives downtown,” Cox said. “That would be fantastic.”

Souque couldn’t reveal the timeline for the development.

“We’re definitely starting construction activities this year, although a completion timeline has not yet been established,” he said. “The laser scanning next week is a major step.”

The redevelopment will rely heavily on advanced construction and engineering technology. Beginning next week, crews are expected to start high-resolution 3D-laser scanning of the building to create a “digital twin” of the structure accurate to within millimetres.

“The scans will allow engineers and designers to map the building’s layout and structural components digitally,” Souque said. “This lets us maximize efficiencies, test layouts and identify any issues before fabrication starts.”

The company plans to use prefabricated wall systems and modular construction methods to reduce construction time and lower costs. Souque said the technology could cut electrical rough-in work by up to 70 per cent while reducing on-site labour waste.

Blackbird Housing is partnering with Calgary-based Fotonara, which Souque described as the parent technology company behind the project.

Adam Morand, chief executive officer of Fotonara — a Canadian engineering and real estate technology firm — also serves as president of Brandon Fresh Farm. According to the company, Fotonara has partnered with Edmonton-based Energy Saving Products Ltd. to incorporate high-velocity small-duct HVAC systems into the redevelopment.

Suites would feature health-monitoring sensors capable of detecting falls, monitoring heart rates and assisting caregivers while maintaining resident privacy through localized data systems, Souque said.

“The building would also incorporate high-efficiency HVAC systems and prefabricated cellular light-weight concrete wall panels designed to improve fire resistance, soundproofing and energy efficiency.”

Souque said engineering assessments indicate the structure remains sound.

“These buildings have been here for decades,” he said. “They were built incredibly well initially.”

Souque said the idea for the project emerged from both the ongoing housing shortage and his own family’s experience navigating senior care.

“My father, in particular, struggled to find suitable care,” he said. “Whether you could afford it or not, it’s a real tough battle.”

— Brandon Sun