There is one day we look forward to on almost every large project. That’s the day we polish off the last of the high stuff and get to take down the scaffold. Any work that requires us to be off of the ground always takes a whole lot more time and effort. There is always more danger to being high as well. This past week it was finally time to remove the scaffold from the back wall of the Hazelnut Inn. Peter carefully unhooked each stage from the secure structural tie downs anchored into the concrete wall and then lowered the pieces down to the eager crew. As the last piece was disassembled and carted away we declared the building envelope of the building complete. We’ll call the engineer for a final inspection and stamped report to submit to the city authorities, bringing the Hazelnut Inn one small step closer to opening. Our crew’s celebration was brief as we moved on to the next task that needed doing. Stay tuned…

The firewall of the Hazelnut Inn which borders the property line stretches more than a hundred feet and at its highest point measures twenty seven feet tall. Everyone’s attention will be drawn to the extra fancy front of the building, and chances are not many people will give the wall even a second glance. Even so, the wall isn’t going to be ‘boring or ordinary’. That simply isn’t our style. The wall is being carefully aged, like the entire inn, with cracks, exposed stonework and skillfully applied paint. This endless wall is the last bit of the exterior of inn structure to be completed and within a week or so the scaffold will be down and the fire wall will be done. One more major milestone to celebrate!

Many thanks to Laurice Gomes for writing an article featuring our little inn for Fraser Valley Today!