Construction Begins On $34M Ronald McDonald House At Stony Brook

STONY BROOK, NY — Construction is underway on a new $34 million Ronald McDonald House that will allow families to stay near children receiving medical care at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

The 30-room facility is expected to open in fall 2027, Ronald McDonald House Long Island said Wednesday.

The land has been cleared, excavation has been completed and foundation walls have been poured. The building is expected to begin rising from the site soon, officials said.

Ronkonkoma-based Aurora Contractors is overseeing construction.

The house will offer private rooms, meals and other support to parents, caregivers and siblings of children receiving treatment at the hospital.

“Seeing construction officially underway is incredibly exciting because it means this House is no longer just a vision, it is now real,” said Matt Campo, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Long Island. “Every wall that goes up brings us closer to helping families stay near their children when they need each other most.”

Campo said the project is intended to provide families with comfort, privacy and easier access to their hospitalized children during medical emergencies.

Ronald McDonald House Long Island opened in New Hyde Park in 1986 next to Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The existing house has 42 bedrooms.

The organization also operates family rooms, hospitality carts and other programs at hospitals, including Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.

Ronald McDonald House Long Island said its programs serve more than 19,000 families annually while their children receive medical care.

“This is a moment so many people have worked toward for a very long time,” said Cynthia Lippe, co-chair of the project’s fundraising committee. “Families facing a child’s serious illness should not have to worry about where they will sleep, how far they are from the hospital or whether they can stay close.”