ep 066: Craig Stanghetta

Craig Stanghetta is a fascinating human—warmhearted, eclectic, and undeniably talented. The designer and founder of award-winning multidisciplinary Ste Marie Studio, he’s had a major hand in many of the beautiful restaurants and commercial, retail, mixed-use & multi-residential spaces in Vancouver and beyond. He was born in Sault Ste Marie, an industrial city in Ontario with a large Italian population—his father is Italian, his mother is French Scottish. Hospitality has been in his blood since he was born: one of the oldest hotels in town had been owned by his family for several generations. Craig was athletic, but also drawn to theatre and was deeply involved in it growing up. It was a passion that ended up nurturing his affinity for world-building. After a stint as an actor—landing a role in what was supposed to be a dream job—he found himself turning to design again, convincing his friends to let him create their spaces. In 2010, Bao Bei was his first project, and he eventually founded Ste Marie Studio in 2013. Since then, the studio has designed Savio Volpe, Florist, Como Taperia, Ask For Luigi, Botanist Dining, Onni Group’s HQ, and Jaybird, among an impressive collection of others. In this conversation, we explore his childhood & how his passion for design showed up even then; his small chapter as a television actor and a major turning point; what the theatre taught him and how he applies it to his work now; how Craig brings in hidden elements of surprise & delight to spaces; the pandemic shifting the way people experience spaces & shifting design approaches as a result; preserving the ‘language’ of neighbourhoods; balancing creativity, excellence, scalability and culture at Ste Marie Studio; and much more.