Grand Openings…

Late Spring 2018 in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado. I pulled into the Springs Ranch Memory Care Communities parking lot, and I suddenly felt failure. My rental car tires were running over construction debris, and the last crew was leaving for the afternoon. The Truck Drop was a success a month ago, yet today, as I walked the dark hallways with security lights beeping, this Grand Opening will undoubtedly need work.

Through the kitchen and out the back door is typically a sidewalk that leads to a small road for food deliveries, but instead rested a 10-foot hole large. The hole was big enough for the truck that was craned into the courtyard to fit in. I walked back inside, locked the door, and made a mental note that if this all goes bad, I can bury myself out behind the community. The hole is dug.

I typically set up shop for events in the dining room, but since the inspector closed the building to everyone, I posted up in the construction trailer and began working out best-case scenarios.

• Hired Caterer

• Valet parking at the golf resort

• Cleaning teams will be there the day of

• Site superintendent believes a temporary certification of occupancy stamp is imminent

417 attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, tours, and a red ribbon cutting. The festivities missed the landscaping highlights, but the interior spaces featured historical surprises around every bend. I learned a great deal from this project, which included construction team updates featuring progress photos. Also, pushing events out 30 days after construction’s occupancy date is critical. The 30-day trick subsequently saved numerous future occasions; and I have yet to walk into any truck-sized holes.

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