MGA | Michael Green Architecture – project begun at mcfarlane | green | biggar architecture + design
Michael Green, FRAIC
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 in Vancouver. MGA worked in a highly collaborative design process with the RMH team to produce design solutions that would feel like a home and not a hotel. The new house serves 73 families and includes common spaces, kitchen and dining areas, fitness facilities, library resources, office areas, educational space and outdoor play areas. Designed with an innovative tilt-up cross-laminated timber (CLT) wood structure, the project has achieved a LEED Gold rating.
Photo: Ed White
Photo: Ed White
Photo: Ema Peter
Photo: Ema Peter
Photo: Ema Peter
"This Ronald McDonald House plays an important role in the daily lives of families with children receiving cancer treatment. Although the building accommodates up to 73 families, it feels more like a large home than a regular hospital hotel. The architecture has warmth, using familiar domestic materials and a human scale. The structure is broken into four modules, each with connections to create common areas where people can socialize, while providing private spaces for families to be alone during trying times. It is a comforting environment for families who are away from their homes for extensive periods, and a model for other such facilities."