For Nick Shewman, a 45-year-old man with cerebral palsy, independence has always been a challenge. While fully capable of living on his own—the right environment and support was needed.
With the completion of The Brunette Building, and in partnership with The Village of Merici, MAS Associates and many others, Meyer Najem helped make Nick’s dream a reality.
Nick Shewman stepped carefully over the uneven ground, his eyes wide with excitement as he took in the skeletal framework of what would soon be his new home. The construction site was alive with movement—workers in hard hats, the hum of equipment, the sound of progress echoing off exposed brick walls. But for Nick, it wasn’t just a construction site. It was the first glimpse of his future.
Clad in a bright yellow Meyer Najem safety vest and a hard hat that sat just a little too big on his head, Nick fired off questions as he walked through the space. “Where’s my bedroom going to be?” he asked, turning to the project team with eager anticipation. His mother, aunt, and grandmother stood nearby, watching with quiet emotion as Nick envisioned a life that would finally give him the support he needed to thrive. He had lived on his own before, but never in a place designed with his unique needs in mind. Here, in this soon-to-be home, he could picture a future where daily tasks would be easier, where he could move around safely, and where a true sense of community would surround him.
For years, Nick lived in places where neighbors were just people passing by, not a community. His housing options were limited, with most available residences either being group homes with little independence or family homes where his level of autonomy remained restricted. He’s spent years wanting more freedom—to walk to an ice cream shop, to go to the movies on his own, to volunteer and make friends. Now, thanks to The Village of Merici and the newly completed Brunette Building, that long-awaited independence is finally within reach.
That day, as he stood in a room with no walls, picturing where his furniture would go, where he would cook, and where he would hang his framed photos, Nick’s excitement was contagious. The Meyer Najem team guided him through the space, explaining how it would all come together, how this once-empty barracks would soon become a home.
“Restoring the Past to Build the Future”
The Brunette Building, constructed in 1904 as part of Fort Benjamin Harrison, has stood for over a century. Once used as military barracks, it has now been transformed into 34 ADA-compliant condominiums for adults with disabilities.
Instead of tearing it down and starting from scratch, the construction and design team worked with The Village of Merici to preserve the building’s original character while modernizing it for a new purpose. The renovation honors the past while addressing an urgent present-day need—affordable, independent housing. This isn’t the only historic structure in the area that Meyer Najem has revitalized. We also renovated the neighboring PX Building, which now houses a variety of small businesses, further integrating the Fort Ben area into a vibrant community.
(Left) The Brunette Building housed personnel when Fort Benjamin Harrison was a military base. (Right) Construction crews work at shoring up the foundation of the historic building.
The Brunette Building could have been demolished and replaced with something new, but preserving it meant keeping its character and ensuring that a space designed for military community decades ago can now support a different kind of community.
“Designed for Independence”
The building balances accessibility and independence with features such as wide hallways, automatic doors, Braille signage, and visual/audio safety alerts. Smart home technology, including Amazon Echo Show units, allows residents to manage daily tasks, schedule appointments, and even participate in telehealth visits. Unlike traditional rental models, the condos at the Brunette Building offer a permanent housing solution, eliminating the burden of lease renewals and income verification requirements.
Beyond providing accessibility, the community is designed to foster social connections and a sense of belonging. Residents have common spaces for gathering, opportunities for skill-building, and the ability to shape their own daily lives.
And unlike traditional residential services, where schedules and daily routines are often dictated by caregivers or case managers, The Village of Merici emphasizes autonomy.
“Most residential services predetermine schedules for their residents—when they eat, where they work, even their social interactions. Here, we do things differently. We give them the space to make their own decisions,” Community and Technology Support Coordinator Genny Deis said.
It’s Personal
Nick’s inside glimpse of his new home was orchestrated by Vice President of Business Development Katelyn Colclazier. She has known Nick and his family for years—his aunt Karen has been a longtime family friend. When she learned that Meyer Najem was building the place Nick would soon move into, she made sure he got the full experience.
Nick became a regular visitor to the construction site, proudly sporting his Meyer Najem PPE gear and taking in every step of the transformation. “He got to experience it in a different light than every other person living in that building—standing in his future home when there were no walls. That’s something he’ll carry with him,” Katelyn said.
Through the construction, the two became even better “buddies,” as Nick likes to call her. He eagerly updated his family and coaches about the progress, telling them all about the progress of his new home. When construction wrapped, he was one of the first residents to move in.
She recalled the moment she realized her company was the one building Nick’s home.
“Once he found out that Meyer Najem—my employer—was the one building it, he was filled with excitement and joy. He wanted to ask me all the questions.”
For Katelyn, the experience went beyond professional pride—it was personal. It reinforced how meaningful our work can be when you see the human impact firsthand.
She wasn’t sure at first if she could do anything extra for Nick, but Meyer Najem’s culture of support made it easy to say yes.
“I wasn’t 100% sure how or if I was able to do more for Nick, being a tenant of a building we were constructing, but I knew I wanted to try. Meyer Najem not only was supportive, but excited to have the opportunity to do this. It speaks volumes about the company as a whole.”
Building Strength in Community
At Meyer Najem, our tagline is Building Strength in Community, and projects like this remind us why those words matter. As builders, it’s easy to focus on the structure itself—the deadlines, the budgets, the challenges of construction. But the Brunette Building stands as a reminder that what we do is about more than just walls and foundations.
“Meyer Najem didn’t just build a building; they built a future for our residents,” said Genny Deis, a community and technology support coordinator at The Village of Merici. “This space gives them independence, safety, and the ability to thrive.”
The residents of the Brunette Building aren’t just tenants—they’re people who have waited years for a place to belong. For some, this is the first time they’ve had a home of their own.
“There are 400 people on our waitlist,” Genny added. “This isn’t just important—it’s urgent.”
Colleen Renie, Executive Director of The Village of Merici, also emphasized the impact of having a construction partner that understood the bigger picture.
“The Meyer Najem team didn’t just complete a project. They shared our vision for providing an accessible home for adults with IDD,” she said.
As Meyer Najem moves on to new projects, the Brunette Building will remain a powerful reminder of the privilege we have in shaping lives through our work. Each beam, each foundation, each finished room represents more than just construction—it represents opportunity, independence, and hope.
For Nick, the walls that now surround him were once just steel framing and construction dust. Now, they represent something more—a fresh start, a community, and a long-awaited chance to live on his own terms. And for Meyer Najem, that’s the kind of project worth building.