The Inn of Tomorrow is on its way to becoming a reality after The Children’s Inn at NIH held a groundbreaking ceremony on November 13, 2024, to commemorate the official beginning of the renovation and expansion project that has been in the planning phase for the past several years. By late December 2024, all families, staff, and volunteers were relocated to Building 62A in preparation for the start of construction. Whiting-Turner Contracting began construction in late February 2025, with project milestones including the completion of extensive interior demolition work, the installation of structural steel to support the new design layout, and the framing of interior walls. A new balcony has been installed on the second floor of the existing Living Room to gain future access to an outdoor terrace, and new mechanical, plumbing, and electrical installations are underway. Additionally, the new location for the Sport Court in the Playground has been cleared and prepped, and underground stormwater improvements are underway.

As expected, the renovation revealed a fragmented and aging IT infrastructure that required comprehensive upgrades to support The Inn of Tomorrow’s vision. The outdated cabling, hardware, and unreliable access controls created daily frustrations for families and staff while posing safety risks and operational inefficiencies that threatened the facility’s ability to meet future needs. In response, the first construction phase prioritized a complete technological overhaul, installing new Ethernet wiring and network hardware throughout the building, implementing VoIP phone lines in guest rooms for enhanced connectivity, and modernizing security and access control systems to ensure that family safety remains paramount. These improvements now enable families to stay digitally connected thousands of miles from home, while new communal areas feature modern IT resources for education and entertainment, including streaming and gaming services, and the Young Adult Residence has been equipped with both NIH and Inn networks featuring fiber connections and audio/visual capabilities in guest rooms and common areas.

Young Adult Residence:

Construction on the residence continues, and several notable milestones were achieved during this past fiscal year. On the exterior, the house was upgraded with new drainage and moisture control systems, new electric lines were run underground, and improvements were made to the storm system. On the interior of the house, all demolition was completed, and new walls to support the re-configured design have all been constructed. HVAC, electric, and plumbing upgrades are almost complete. Due to a few delays on the project related to site work approvals and existing condition challenges, the completion of this phase is anticipated to wrap up in February 2026. At that time, The Inn will engage a General Contractor to complete Phase Two of the project, which will focus on interior fit-out, furniture, and building security.

Even amid construction constraints, our Programming and Resident Services teams have remained flexible and committed to ensuring that our families’ experiences continue to be uplifting and positive. They have done this in part through increased commitment to education and collaboration among our partners, as well as a personalized focus on each family that stays at The Inn.

The Inn’s Pediatric Support Program has welcomed both the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research and the Biomechanics Research Sections as protocol partners advancing care for families affected by cerebral palsy.  Through these partnerships, we educated eight new medical teams and welcomed 12 new patients to The Inn.

The All of Us Research Program launched Social and Emotional Workshops, equipping families with resilience-building tools, stress management techniques, and connections to community resources. The NIH School program created seamless educational continuity by matching volunteer tutors to residents’ curricula and bringing NIH educators on-site.

Meanwhile, in response to feedback received from families, The Inn has focused in particular on two key areas: maintaining clean and inviting rooms and enhancing staff and volunteer training. We have been conducting audits of our apartments and collaborating with facilities and housekeeping to prioritize keeping clean and welcoming spaces during construction. Staff have been receiving regular training, including quarterly Inn the Know training sessions, building a deeper understanding of the complex needs families face during medical journeys.

This year, our programming team has launched personalized experiences, enabling unique and memorable moments tailored to each family. These individual outings have led to stronger connections with our families and meaningful participation for those who have been involved so far. The team has also developed several options for our Adolescent and Young Adult programs, including practical life skills workshops and career readiness opportunities, as well as simply providing safe spaces for peer connection and emotional support through monthly AYA mixers and integrated programming that bridges education, health, and life skills.

This year, The Inn deepened its engagement in the local community through expanded outreach to individual, corporate, and foundation partners, state and federal officials, as well as collaborations with several professional sports teams across the Washington and Baltimore regions.

We continued to evolve our approach to corporate partnerships through meaningful collaborations and partnerships. When companies reach out through donations or volunteer inquiries, we aim to design tailored experiences that foster a genuine connection to our mission and work to create authentic relationships built on shared purpose.

The launch of our Celebrity Ambassador Program this year strengthened connections with local sports teams and created unique opportunities for families to engage. This has led to new and enhanced partnership benefits, such as a behind-the-scenes meet-and-greet with Washington Nationals players Jake Irvin and Jacob Young before a game at Nationals Park. That encounter sparked a creative collaboration with Inn patients and artists Naomi and Sam, who created cleats worn by the Nats duo during MLB Players Weekend. The hand-designed cleats gained visibility across the Nationals’ social media platforms and in Sports Illustrated, amplifying awareness of The Inn’s mission to a national audience.