Ronald McDonald House to expand
Ronald McDonald House Houston is increasing the capacity of its flagship Holcombe House campus by 40 percent.
Officials and community leaders marked the start of construction Tuesday of the first two phases of a renovation and expansion that will add 20 bedrooms to the 50-bedroom campus, which provides accommodations for out-of-town families of seriously ill children being treated in the Texas Medical Center.
Holcombe House serves nearly 600 families a year. Because it is usually at capacity, some 12 to 15 families are turned away daily, Ronald McDonald House Houston CEO Rick Noriega said in an announcement.
“We are thrilled that this project will allow us to keep more families close to their sick child when it matters most,” he said.
The work includes a two-story addition to the property at 1907 Holcombe Blvd., next to Houston Hospice, along with heating and air-conditioning updates, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The first floor and atrium will be revamped, and upgrades are planned to the kitchen and common areas, including a new area for serving meals for families and their guests.
Donations to Ronald McDonald House Houston’s $22.5 million “Behind Every Door” capital campaign are funding the improvements. Since 2015, more than $18 million has been raised.
Lesha Pulido Elsenbrook, president of the Ronald McDonald House Houston board and chair of the capital campaign, said the upgrades will improve “functionality, comfort and energy efficiency, to better serve families needing a safe and loving home away from home.”
The project team includes W.S. Bellows Construction Corp., Dewberry | Wilson Architects, and Pin Oak Interests as project manager.