Ronald McDonald House II

Individual living, resident independence, and safety were of primary significance when designing the new home as the client faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic with their current “hotel” model. The new design focuses on autonomy, encouraging families to function normally day-to-day with little to no staff interaction. Eight dwelling units are provided allowing up to eight families to stay on site at one time. Each suite provides a living room, kitchen, dining counter, private laundry areas, outdoor patios, and one to two bedrooms. Four units are adjacent to the two lockout rooms which can be used to expand the unit size depending on the size of the family, and one unit is ADA-accessible. All eight units are intentionally designed to be identical to assist the facilities management team in the procurement of furniture and equipment donations from the community. The focal point of the project is the centralized courtyard with a whimsical fountain, playground, half-court basketball court, covered picnic tables, artificial turf, lots of greenery, and decorative pavers that provide opportunities for donor recognition. This courtyard establishes a sense of community between the families staying at the home and allows them to connect with the outdoors. Our goal was to minimize or even eliminate indoor circulation to prevent the spread of bacteria and illness. The climactic conditions of Las Vegas permitted the use of outdoor circulation. The concept of wrapping the dwelling units around an outdoor courtyard was an instant hit with the client and became one of the favorite aspects of the project and a first for RMH. Integrating a new Ronald McDonald House into the context of the existing neighborhood was a challenge that was successfully overcome. The client (and neighbors) stressed the importance of blending the new home into its residential neighborhood. The client also desired a home with a Tuscan vocabulary and height in massing at the entry to achieve presence. A grand, open-air entry vestibule with a gabled roof was implemented with arched windows, an ornamental metal entry gate, and wrought iron decorative elements. A calm exterior color palette was selected that reflected similar colors in the neighborhood. After the client held a big reveal to their neighbors, the consensus was that they were all very pleased with how it would fit in and were excited about the project.