HEALTHCARE AS HOME: RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE

Oak Lawn, USA

A Healing Home Away From Home

Photo © © Doug Snower

Views From Hospital

Photo © © Doug Snower

Natural Light & Shared Spaces

Photo © © Doug Snower

Treehouse Visible by Children in Hospital

Photo © © Doug Snower

Communal Kitchen for Sharing and Support

Photo © © Doug Snower

View From Treehouse

Photo © © Doug Snower

Child's Hospital View of Treehouse

Photo © © Doug Snower

Contemplative Walks in Natural Landscape

Photo © © Doug Snower

Volunteers Cooking in Communal Kitchen

Photo © Courtesy of Ronald McDonald House

Treehouse Detail

Photo © © Architecture Is Fun

Architecten: Architecture Is Fun

Locatie: Oak Lawn, USA
Jaar: 2007
Klant: Ronald McDonald House Charities
Team: Sharon Exley, Peter Exley, Architecture Is Fun, Fun Finders, Constantine Vasilios & Associates
Wood Flooring - Antique Oak: Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
Porcelain Tile & Mosaic Tile: DalTile
Carpet: InterfaceFLOR
Wood Stain: Cabot Stains
Paints: Benjamin Moore
Counter Solid Surfacing: Corian Surfaces
Laminate: Abet Laminati
Fabrics: Architex LJH
Fabric: Maharam
Office Furnishings: Steelcase North America
Outdoor Furnishings: Knoll

A HOME AWAY FROM HOME IN THE WOODS:
Building a multifamily “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children demonstrates the importance of building a sense of community through support, socialization, and shared experience. The three-story house nestled in a grove of trees greets families upon arrival, expressing the essence of home.

The house brings the serenity that families are looking for.
~ Mary Agnes Laguatan, Director of Programs, Ronald McDonald House Charities

Design Impact
• Economical and responsible construction.
• Sustainable strategies included careful site placement limiting removal of existing trees, green roof atop the porte cochêre, reduction of heating and cooling costs, and lessening storm water run-off in a neighborhood susceptible to flooding.
• Recycled carpet content, reuse of FSC antique wood flooring, Energy Star appliances, natural content furnishings and fabrics, and low-flow fixtures.

Social Impact
• Designed through an envisioning process with family end users, hospital representatives, and members of the board of the Ronald McDonald House Charities.
• Services over 600 families, 850 meals, and encourages volunteerism at 30,000 hours per year.

This house keeps families together when they need each other most. By building this house, we change lives.
~ Bill Keyser, RMHC Board of Directors.

Outstanding Project Award, Association of Subcontractors and Affiliates, 2008 – 2009.
Award given to recognize an outstanding project.