Since opening its doors in 2011, the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Greater Charlotte, NC has served more than 6,400 families with children in medical emergency. During short-term or extended hospital stays, RMHC of Greater Charlotte provides a haven for families who come to Charlotte seeking world-class medical care for seriously ill children.

 
To create an oasis for guests during their stay, Little Diversified Architectural Consulting's Land Development Services team designed a 3,000-square-foot garden for RMHC of Greater Charlotte. "The Healing Garden," as it came to be known, is a restoration space for families and their loved ones. It is a place for reflection, a place of solace after a long day at the hospital, a place of remembrance for those whose lives were lost battling an illness, and a place of healing.

The Healing Garden includes vine-covered pergolas, butterfly bushes, a small waterfall fountain, and statues that stimulate the imagination. Designed as a series of small "rooms," the garden incorporates benches where families can gather to pray, talk, or enjoy silence. The center of the space features an arbor-covered porch swing.

A water feature originally designed to drown out road noise and create ambiance has evolved into a memorial space. Each year, families who have lost a child during that year return and place ceremonial stones etched with their child's name around the fountain in honor of their children. This annual event has continued to grow, as families from previous years also return to see their child's stone and comfort those who will be placing their own.

While the design team knew the garden would be used by families who spent an entire day with their child in the hospital, they did not realize it would become a respite place for children. One young girl who was going through cancer treatments shared that the best part of her day was coming to the house at night and sitting on the porch swing in the garden and listening to her music. She would visualize this activity as she was going through her treatments, knowing that the garden and swing would be waiting for her when she got back to the house.

Little, led by the generous efforts of Workplace Practice Leader Eddie Portis, also played an integral role in establishing the RMHC of Greater Charlotte.