The shell of a three-storey building in Harbour Landing rings with excited voices and laughter, a taste of what is to come once construction is complete and 10 adults with disabilities move in.

Large windows in the 10 condominium units on the second and third floors flood the inside with natural light. The open common area on the main floor is furnished by a Sharpie drawing of a larger-than-life fireplace — complete with stockings — hanging on one wall, courtesy of the building’s construction workers.

The exterior walls are only plywood and the interior walls just studs at this point, but small posters with condo numbers and the name of a future resident posted beside each empty door frame have already made it a home.

The future residents, their families and the project’s builders from Westridge Construction recently gathered on site in celebration of “topping off” the building — putting the final roof beam in place. The building is the brainchild of Input Housing Corp., a non-profit organization started by Regina parents of people with intellectual disabilities, with the goal of giving their kids a place to live safely and independently.

“Oh my god, look at this! Look at my view!” exclaimed Stephanie Reitmeier on Friday as she walked into her condo for the first time and admired Regina from her third storey window.

Nick Popowich happily wandered from room to room in his condo, speculating on where he would put his TV so he can watch football and imagining his bedroom walls Roughrider green.

“It looks pretty great from the interior,” he said, also admiring the large windows. “It’s a great view out there. I like it.”

Nick said he is most excited for the increased independence living in his own home will give him, although he said it will take some time to adjust to living with his friends and not having his parents around all the time.

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