1999, he registered Craft Contracting and began taking on projects under his own banner, growing the business organically through word of mouth. From the outset, Craft Contracting has concentrated on commercial projects, and their approach has been grounded in practicality, responsiveness, and optimizing value. Early on, however, Stein recognized a structural problem in the way many office interiors were delivered. He found that chasing work through external design firms often created friction, inflated costs, and led to surprises for clients when drawings went to tender. “I saw a lot of waste on the design side,” Stein recalls. “Clients were paying for over-designed spaces they didn’t need, and when those drawings finally got priced, the numbers were much higher than they expected. That’s a problem we decided to solve.” In order to solve that problem, Craft Contracting decided to introduce design capabilities in-house. About 12 years ago, the company brought in lead designer Laura Thompson and became a “one-stop-shop” that offered everything from space planning, to interior design, engineering coordination, permit acquisition, and construction, all under one roof. That strategic shift also changed how Craft Contracting develops business. Rather than pitching to design firms, the team now works directly with leasing agents and their clients. APRIL 2026
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