New facility inspired by McGill architecture class

"I'm in heaven," 49-year-old, Edward Wagnies of Fredericton said as he settled into his new apartment Friday. He used to call one room his home. Now he has his own apartment. His is one of 45 subsidized units in the building that was born out of the need for the dwindling congregation at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church to find a new way to ensure its future... The plan was inspired by a project by McGill architecture students who visited Fredericton in 2005-06. Prof. Avi Friedman and his students made several architectural proposals for affordable-housing units in Fredericton... "This is exactly what we were hoping would happen - that our plans and ideas would become a catalyst in Fredericton," Friedman said. Five of the seven projects Friedman and his students proposed for Fredericton have been adopted in some form.