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A lot of Ronald McDonald House Charities’ East House, near Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in North Portland, is changing.

鈥淲e are working in a construction zone,鈥� said Julie Miller, the house’s director of marketing and communications.

The 25-bed guest house is undergoing a $1.7 million remodel as it continues to serve as a home away from home for families who’ve traveled from throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington 鈥� and sometimes farther 鈥� for their children to receive medical care at Portland hospitals.

鈥淭his way, families can be really close to them,鈥� Miller said.

Common areas and guest rooms throughout the 18-year-old East House are gaining upgrades based on feedback from families who’ve stayed there, staffers and volunteers, said Jessica Jarratt Miller, CEO for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

鈥淚t’s a pretty comprehensive remodel and it’s a remodel that’s driven by the needs of our families,鈥� she said.

Crews from Portland-based O’Brien Constructors in January began renovating the interior of the house by installing new flooring, lighting and paint. Building entrances and bathrooms will be made fully accessible by disabled individuals. Other upgrades include additions of a private guest registration area and an office space with wireless internet where homeschooled students can do their coursework.

Also this month, construction started on an effort to extensively revamp the house’s outdoor spaces. New accessible playgrounds, a rock garden, an amphitheater, an entry pergola and a barbecue grill and cooking area will be built. Storm damage to the house’s roof will be repaired and the exterior will gain a fresh coat of paint.

The renovation wouldn’t have been possible without the pro bono services and reduced rates offered by design and construction industry partners, Jarratt Miller said.

鈥淭his is an awesome story of people jumping in and collaborating,鈥� she said.

In particular, the support of Milwaukie-based senior housing developer Marquis Cos., its charitable arm, the Vital Life Foundation, and Salem-based CB | Two Architects inspired plans for an extensive redesign of the house grounds instead of a simple playground replacement, Jarratt Miller said.

鈥淚t’s going to be amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e’re turning it into 360 degrees of outdoor, active play spaces.鈥�

The project hit close to home for CB | Two designer Jennifer Oakey, who was among firm staffers who volunteered their architectural services pro bono. Her family used to rely on Ronald McDonald House Charities for a place to stay while her sister received medical treatment far from home.

鈥淭hese kinds of projects are what make your job fun,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t was a great opportunity to give back to an organization that’s given so much to my family.鈥�

Jarratt Miller said designs created by CB | Two to add more comfortable outdoor spaces to the East House grounds will benefit residents who are often under a lot of stress.

鈥淭he more areas where kids and families can sit and hang (out) are so much better,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淛ust (imagine) it’s a crisis that keeps going on and on 鈥� These people at CB | Two, I really can’t say enough for their vision.鈥�

Scott Miller, director of development and construction for Marquis Cos., said when he approached CB | Two about contributing to the East House grounds remodel, firm staffers eagerly agreed. The architecture firm is among companies Marquis has partnered with on its own projects that got involved in the East House effort, he said.

鈥淛ust a whole bunch of people came together and saw the vision,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ho wouldn’t want to help Ronald McDonald House? It’s just been really rewarding to see it all happen.鈥�

Another contributor to the remodel project is WALSH Construction Co. Crews from the Portland-based general contractor are scheduled to start remodeling the home’s guest rooms this fall. Each room, which can hold up to six family members, has a different theme and can vary widely from one another, Jarratt Miller said. One of the goals of the remodel will be to add some more consistency, she said.

鈥淲e really would love for every room to be something that feels good and is comfortable,鈥� she said.

East House remodel

Location: 2620 N. Commercial Ave., Portland

Cost: $1.7 million

Interior construction start: January 2015

Anticipated interior construction completion: September 2015

Owner: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington

Architect: CB | Two Architects

Interior general contractor: O’Brien Constructors

Exterior general contractor: CB | Two Construction

Guest room remodel general contractor: WALSH Construction Co.

Other associates: Marquis Cos., Vital Life Foundation, Parr Lumber, Miller Paint