MGA | MICHAEL GREEN ARCHITECTURE

The new Ronald McDonald House of British Columbia (RMHBC) provides a “home away from home” for out of town families with children receiving medical treatment at BC Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Growing from their old residence serving 12 families to a new 73 family facility risked a significant shift in the delivery of services and the culture of the new larger home for the RMHBC organization, while preserving the nurturing, closely-bonded social connection found in the original 12 family Shaughnessy house. The design is layered with a variety of space types to help families find both solace and community as they go through one of the most significant and challenging moments of life with their severely sick child. The design developed as a series of 4 houses stitched together with common areas; dining rooms, living rooms and courtyards. The rings of flowers in the Alpenglow story are reflected in the concentric ‘rings’ of the architecture. The rings begin with the sick child and her family and grow spatially; from the individual family suites on individual floors, to a ‘ring’ of 6 families sharing each floor of each House with a common living and outdoor space, to the larger ‘ring’ of 18 families sharing the kitchen in each of the four Houses, to the ‘ring’ of 36 families that bring together two Houses in a shared dining room and finally to the ‘ring’ of all 73 families who are brought together in the main central living room. These metaphorical ‘rings’ of support extend beyond to the hospital, city and province as a whole who support RMHBC. The scaling of space in the design specifically manages each family’s adjustment from their home elsewhere in BC and the Yukon to living with many families experiencing a huge range of emotions as their kids are treated. Places to retreat and find quiet family time are complimented by ever larger gathering areas that ultimately help build community and shared support. The design includes many creative play areas, including both indoor and outdoor tunnel slides, giant wood doll-house style structures on wheels which recognize the generosity of donors, craft and Lego rooms, a wooden outdoor “teepee,” and teen zones. The house serves parents, siblings, and patients from infancy through late teen years. The design respects this diversity, providing spaces for all age groups. Spaces for quiet family time, noisy places to play in, and warm, active communal rooms allow residents to support one another. Project Principal Michael Green; project completed at MGA.