Leading up to the July 14 grand opening of The ARTery at 539 Colorado Ave. in downtown Grand Junction, Grand Valley Creative Alliance Executive Director Chip Walton said the renovation of the building went smoothly. He praised the project’s architect, Clare van Montfrans, and general contractor Sam Tilford of TIL Construction, saying, “They both have been phenomenal.”

Walton said he oversaw projects in Denver that were similar to The ARTery, and he knows the pain of delays that push back opening dates several months and sometimes much more. He attributed The ARTery staying on schedule to van Montfrans and Tilford.

“They’re both really awesome,” he said. “You know, all of their I’s were dotted, and T’s were crossed.”

Good Reason to be on Time:

Walton added van Montrfans “is a pretty serious ceramic artist as well as an architect, so she had a unique and really helpful perspective.” And the sooner The Artery got done, the sooner she could use it.