Ronald McDonald House Atlantic, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada: First Look
Montgomery Sisam Architects and Lydon Lynch Architects
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic: The new RMHA will serve families who travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to seek specialized medical care at IWK Health Centre. The exterior design features a buff-colored brick on a podium of earth-colored brick to give the impression of a “cloud in the sky.”
Montgomery Sisam Architects and Lydon Lynch Architects
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic: The resident floors will be stacked in a single five-story block with projecting bay windows overlooking the courtyard and terrace below. The ground floor will accommodate most administrative functions and major public spaces and is configured to create a secure courtyard that will feature BBQs, seating, and play equipment.
Montgomery Sisam Architects and Lydon Lynch Architects
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic: The new RMHA building features a dark-brick base and white architectural block tower. The entrance is defined by a vibrant, red-tiled curved wall, offering a sense of warmth at grade.
Montgomery Sisam Architects and Lydon Lynch Architects
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic: The reception area will offer views of the courtyard, which will provide a place of respite as well as secure outdoor play areas.
Montgomery Sisam Architects and Lydon Lynch Architects
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic: The communal kitchen and dining area will be located on the ground floor, which will feature a variety of spaces for children, families, and larger gatherings. The dining area will include views to the courtyard.
Montgomery Sisam Architects and Lydon Lynch Architects
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic: A single-loaded corridor will frame the courtyard, allowing daylight to filter into the shared spaces from all sides.
Ronald McDonald House Atlantic, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
A new 43,398-square-foot Ronald McDonald House Atlantic (RMHA) is planned to open at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to meet growing demand for services for patients and families receiving care at the pediatric hospital and trauma center.
In the past, RMHA had to turn away families who needed help. The new replacement project will be larger to enable the charity to serve an additional 600 families per year.
Supportive services for IWK Health Centre patients
The new Ronald McDonald House will increase the number of family rooms from 18 to 36. Additionally, it will introduce four larger suites, which include two-bedroom apartments with a kitchen space for families with long-term stays or immunocompromised children.
A communal kitchen and dining area, outdoor eating and play area, and common areas for socializing will also be provided.
Patients can also utilize a “cape room” where kids, upon arrival, can gain superpowers to battle their illness, as well as a “magic room” where they can celebrate the completion of their stay.
Exterior and interior design details
The courtyard building will be modeled after university college residences that features a quadrangle. The courtyard will create an outdoor sanctuary from the surrounding city and hospital.
A vibrant red tile wall, reminiscent of the red door at RMHA’s original house, will offer a sense of warmth to the entrance.
The ground floor will feature administrative and common spaces, such as activity rooms, a parlor, play areas, lounge space, and a shared kitchen and dining room, which will be configured around the courtyard.
A terrace with play equipment will feed into and off the activity rooms and wrap around the building to meet the kitchen.
Resident floors will be stacked in a five-story block, and the typical resident floor will accommodate eight family bedrooms including one larger family suite, each with its own bathroom.
Designing for flexibility
Flexibility in the floorplate will allow the building to adjust and evolve as needed without undue restrictions. The design also takes advantage of the existing site slope to create a partial basement for servicing and other suitable program spaces.
Overall, the project will be designed to replicate the spaces that families would find in their own home, such as a living room, kitchen, dining room, and backyard to support families on their care journey.
Check out other Ronald McDonald House projects here.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic project details
Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Completion date: First quarter 2024
Owner: Ronald McDonald House Charities Atlantic
Total building area: 43,398 sq. ft.
Total construction cost: Confidential
Cost/sq. ft.: Confidential
Architecture firm: Montgomery Sisam Architects in association with Lydon Lynch Architects
Interior design: By & Large Studios, Sarah Bauemler
General contractor: RCS Construction
Engineering: Campbell Comeau Engineering (structural), M&R Engineering (mechanical & electrical), Able Engineering Services Inc. (civil)
Builder: RCS Construction
