March 24, 2026

This piece is sponsored by TSP.

As construction progresses on a new Ronald McDonald House in Rapid City, TSP quietly celebrates a meaningful milestone: This is the third Ronald McDonald House the firm has designed in a community where it also maintains an office.

With the other houses located in Sioux Falls and Rochester, Minnesota, these facilities span cities, time zones, countless miles and have supported thousands of families.

For architects, projects like this often begin with an idea and a conversation.

“It’s always nice when you get to see a project from nothing to completion,” said Seth Harwood, an architect at TSP.

“I love being part of it from that first conversation when an owner says, ‘Hey, I have an idea,’ all the way until it is finished. It can take a couple of years, but that’s part of what makes it fun.”

While each facility reflects its own unique community, all share a common purpose: to provide a welcoming and supportive place for families with hospitalized children to stay at no cost during some of life’s most difficult times.

In Rapid City, TSP is partnering with Ronald McDonald House South Dakota on the nonprofit organization’s first expansion to the western part of the state.

Known as the House in the Hills, the new facility will be at the corner of Fairmont Boulevard and Elm Avenue, near Monument Health’s main campus.

The single-story residence will include 12 guest rooms, with space for future expansion. The house will feature a community kitchen and dining area, a coffee bar, youth spaces, offices, laundry facilities and other amenities designed to support families during extended stays.

The design aims to make the house feel like a home away from home.

“Warm, residential inspired finishes such as wood-look flooring, textured wall panels and wood slat ceiling features were incorporated to soften the institutional feel often associated with health care-adjacent facilities,” said Morgan Alt, an interior designer at TSP.

 Curved forms and layered ceiling elements in the reception area help create a sense of flow and approachability while guiding visitors through the space.

Thoughtful lighting and color choices are also a factor, including warm red pendant lights that tie into the Ronald McDonald House brand while adding warmth and visual comfort.

“The overall design balances durability and functionality with a calming, hospitality-driven aesthetic, helping the space feel supportive and uplifting for families during challenging times,” Alt said.

The exterior of the building will feature a welcoming facade with a landscaped gathering area, outdoor seating and a fire pit at the rear, providing families with a place to relax and connect.

According to Kevin Miles, CEO with Ronald McDonald House South Dakota, projects like this move forward only when strong partnerships are in place.

“We can’t come into a community and build a house unless we have cooperation from a hospital system,” he said. “Monument Health invited us to investigate the possibility of a house, and that opened the door for us to be able to start this project.”

Before moving forward, Ronald McDonald House South Dakota worked with Monument Health to conduct a feasibility study, evaluating both community readiness and the number of families who might need the service.

It took roughly 2 1/2 years to study the need and begin raising the funding required to launch the project.

The analysis showed that an average of about nine families per day in Rapid City could benefit from services offered by a Ronald McDonald House, and that demand is expected to increase as the community continues to grow.

“At this point in time, we’re at the perfect position to expand and grow,” Miles said, noting that support spans the region and that families who have been served by the organization are now helping to fund its expansion.

The organization continues to work with donors and partners to support the project.

The House in the Hills will total 23,617 square feet, including 6,300 square feet of shell space.

Construction is scheduled for completion in the fall, with RCS Construction of Rapid City serving as the general contractor.

The Rapid City project marks Miles’ first new-construction project during his time with Ronald McDonald House South Dakota, and he said the design team has made the process reassuring.

“Stewardship and being a good steward of the gifts we have been given is a priority for me,” he said. “I want quality, but I also understand that we’re a nonprofit and we have to be wise with our money. And the team at TSP has been excellent in guiding me through this.”

Other TSP-designed Ronald McDonald Houses include the Lake Avenue House near the Sanford Children’s campus in Sioux Falls, originally constructed as a 25,370-square-foot building with 18 bedrooms.

 And in Rochester, TSP designed a Ronald McDonald House with a Prairie School design to reflect the detailing of the historic homes in the established neighborhood, giving the building a residential character. Originally designed as a 24-room house, it has since been expanded.