CHICAGO, IL (February 15, 2008) Bulley & Andrews' Meyne division is proud to announce the completion of a new Ronald McDonald House near the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.
The new 22-bedroom, 30,000 SF facility serves as a "home away from home" for families seeking medical treatment - some from as far away as Japan and Dubai - at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital.
Years of serving the growing and diverse needs of families with children receiving medical treatment influenced every aspect of the house's design.
The new Victorian-style home is nearly double the size of the original house and is ADA accessible. Of the 22 bedrooms - each with a private bath - 15 accommodate up to five people, allowing for siblings or grandparents to join parents. The house also features a non-denominational chapel for quiet reflection and age-appropriate playrooms, including one for toddlers, one for teens and a computer room.
The state-of-the-art house also provides all the comforts and amenities of home, including a full service kitchen, laundry facilities on each guest room floor, wireless internet service, a piano and parking allowing families to focus on what's most important - the well-being of their child. The house also features a family room on each guest floor to encourage guests out of their room to socialize with other guests for support and private, lockable pantries with separate mini-fridges for each family to store their own food and/or medicine safely.
On the exterior, the project draws inspiration from its surroundings, emulating a historic Hyde Park residence that has been transformed into a warm and inviting home. By careful massing, traditional use of brick and limestone details and a large wrap-around porch, the house blends seamlessly into the neighborhood.
The project required relocation of the alley and associated utilities approximately 100' to the north to provide a new driveway at the south end. Construction also included an underground water retention system involving the installation of a 60" diameter pipe in order to be compliant with the City of Chicago's compensatory storage requirement.
"The Ronald McDonald House plays a critical role in a child's medical recovery," said David Hefner, President of the University of Chicago Medical Center. "Studies show that children recover much faster when their parents are nearby, and there's nothing a parent of a hospitalized child wants more than a speedy recovery."
The Ronald McDonald House project broke ground in October 2006 and opened its doors to guests in December 2007. The construction team for the project included Mark Evans, Project Executive; Wendi Wolmer, Assistant Project Manager and Joe Flynn, Superintendent. The architect of record was Pappageorge/Haymes Ltd, led by Brian Kidd and interiors were designed by Gensler.
Established in 1891, Bulley & Andrews is one of Chicago's oldest and most accomplished general contractors. The firm's commitment to quality construction, responsiveness to clients' needs and attention to detail has earned B&A a reputation for exceeding clients' expectations. Fore more information please contact Sloan Watson at 773.645.5831
