Especially in cities with prominent children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald House Charities have become important resources for families with severely sick children. The organizations offer housing and meals to these families at no cost while their children are receiving medical treatment. It’s not surprising that these facilities often don’t have enough room to serve all who want it, which is why a number now are pursuing expansion. The most prominent of these projects is in Cincinnati, with a $42 million addition and renovation that more than doubled the space to 177 rooms, making it the largest in the world.

While the exterior of the renovated and expanded structure is primarily masonry to blend in with the surrounding Avondale neighborhood, the courtyard created by the L-shaped design is a study in fun. Here, designers with the local firm GBBN Architects clad the walls in metal panels that provide pops of playful color – two shades of green and one of yellow – around all the window openings and from top to bottom on one inset wall. They provide a backdrop for a recreation area and fountain to give guests access to outdoor space (the building also incorporates a rooftop terrace for more fresh air).