From office tower to housing: Frederick Street building to be renovated into 91 rental units

What was once an office tower on Frederick Street indowntown Kitchener will soon have a new purpose as a place where people will live.

22 Frederick St. once housed financial businesses and insurance companies like Sun Life. Now,the interior has been stripped back to its basic form andin a few weeks, construction to renovate the space into 91 rentalunits will begin.

Property ownerEuropro started looking at what to do with the space after Financial Horizons Group relocated its officesover a year ago and almost half the building was left vacant.

"We were looking at how do we diversify the portfolio? How do we improve the downtown?," said Europrovice president Jesse Nathanson.

"We felt that taking about 100,0000 square feet off the office market and converting into residential, which is definitely a need downtown, would be beneficial for everyone."

The plan will be for the 12-storey building tohavenine units per floor, made up of a mix of one and two bedroom units.

"We're going to be upgrading mechanicals, electrical systems, all sanitary is being upgraded throughout and we're going to see bright modern finishes placed here using the existing footprint," Europroconstruction manager Tom Hearntold CBC News.

22 Frederick ideal for conversion

Converting vacant office space into residential units is a trend many cities across Canada are looking intoamid a housing shortage, but that kind of work comeswith its own set of challenges particularly around floor plans, windows and sanitation.

That'snot the case with 22 Frederick, said Doug McIntosh,director of projects and a partner with Kitchener's Neo Architecture Inc.

"Sometimes if a building is too long and linear it doesn't work for residential, but because of the size from the core to the outside wall, this building in particular is perfect for residential units," he said.

"A combination of three elevators and three complete walls of windows gives us a great opportunity to create nine units per floor."

McIntosh saidextensive plumbing upgrades will need to be done through the property's parking lot to connect the building to services on Queen Street.

Part of the plan isto convert the atrium portion of the building into a space that the general public can also use.

"The connection to the collegeto Market Square, those connections can be separated and it'll be a great opportunity to create some assembly space there. Arestaurant, amenity space,things for the future," McIntosh said.

Hearn and McIntosh said thebuilding's location, across from Conestoga College and the LRT,makes it ideal for working professionals and students.

This kind of work is a first for Europro, Hearn said, and hopefully not the last.

"This is an exciting opportunity forus and we're excited to make this project happen and see what we can do potentially down the future," he said.

Completion of the renovation work is expected mid to late 2024.