Ronald McDonald House® New York Announces $23.6 Million Expansion To Increase Capacity For Pediatric Cancer Patients

NEW YORK, June 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ronald McDonald House® New York's Board of Directors has approved a $23.6 million capital expansion project that will offer increased capacity for children battling cancer and more comprehensive family support services within its facility at East 73rd Street. Currently, the largest facility of its kind with 84 guest rooms, the new Ronald McDonald House New York will house 95 beds with two outdoor terraces, a wellness center and suites for immunocompromised patients. The project was approved at a meeting on Wednesday, June 10^th. 

Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and will last 17 months:

• New guest rooms: Eleven new rooms and an additional kitchen will be added to the main dining room to accommodate more families. The newly added rooms will be American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant with roll-in bathrooms.
• Isolation suites: Six existing guest rooms will be expanded into suites to include kitchenettes and ADA-compliant bathrooms. These suites will fulfill the needs of patients with weakened immune systems recovering from bone marrow transplants.
• Heating & air conditioning: The existing two-pipe HVAC system will be replaced with a four-pipe system for independent climate control in each guest room.
• Windows: New windows will also be installed to eliminate noise, dust and dirt infiltration.
• Lobby redesign: The lobby will be redesigned and upgraded with a mind toward more stringent security and to better manage guest arrivals and departures.
• Wellness Center: The recently-introduced Blavatnik Wellness Center for families will be moved to the 11^th floor. With a full-time Wellness coordinator, the center will offer wellness services, relaxation sessions and beauty treatments for caregivers. 

"Our mission has been and will continue to be to provide shelter for families seeking comfort and hope when they need it most. With our expansion efforts, more children will have access to lifesaving treatment options, which will lead to more impactful breakthroughs in medical research," said Tina Lundgren, chairman of the board. "With the guidance of our strategic planning committee, we believe that this is the best approach and the best time to make these changes for our families in such a way that won't lead to significant disruptions for families currently seeking treatment."

"After thoughtful consideration of many factors including input from our hospital partners, residents and the community, we believe these improvements will bring a better quality of life to our families," said William T. Sullivan, president & CEO, Ronald McDonald House New York.

The organization has hired Zaskorski & Associates Architects, AIA, PC to design these improvements. Structure Tone, Inc. has been named as the project's construction manager, and Zubatkin Owner Representation, LLC will represent the organization.

To learn more about the House or to make a donation, please visit www.rmh-newyork.org.

About Ronald McDonald House New York 
Ronald McDonald House New York provides temporary housing for pediatric cancer patients and their families in a strong, supportive and caring environment which encourages and nurtures the development of child-to-child and parent-to-parent support systems.  Ronald McDonald House New York is the largest facility of its type in the world. The House can accommodate 84 families, and it is filled to capacity almost every night. The House's location in Manhattan, in close proximity to 16 major cancer treatment centers, draws children and families from across the country and the world, as well as from the metropolitan New York City area.  Since its founding, more than 35,000 families have stayed at Ronald McDonald House New York.  For more information, visit www.rmh-newyork.org.

SOURCE Ronald McDonald House New York

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http://www.rmh-newyork.org