Danielle Murrison

Architectural  Technologies '17, SAIT School of Construction
Director of Construction, CRAFT Beer Market

In two short years, Danielle Murrison  has guided a national brand through its first in-house major renovation, opened a new restaurant concept in Calgary and launched a brewery in Victoria Harbour. First as a project manager and now as Director of Construction, Murrison brings her creativity, innovation, construction expertise and problem-solving skills to every project — from concept and permitting to working with design teams and managing the entire build. 

“We have 10 properties in seven cities across the country, so no two days are the same, no two projects are the same and no two builds are the same,” she says.

Earlier this year, Murrison put every one of her skills to the test. In just four weeks, her team renovated a 12,000-square-foot heritage building in Vancouver, revamping CRAFT’s False Creek location in the iconic Salt Building in the heart of Olympic Village. In addition to CRAFT’s trademark nod to each  property’s former tenant (a namesake canoe in Victoria; massive historical art from the 1930s in the Vancouver sea salt refinery), their latest initiative incorporates local art and photography into each of the company’s locations. 

“CRAFT is built for communities, and our restaurants are meant to invite people in so they can socialize and celebrate together,” says Murrison. “Supporting local is one of the ways we can reflect our community — one of our core values — while bringing spaces to life.” 

She also knows a successful opening or reopening isn’t just about the build itself. And while she says she enjoys and appreciates every part of the project life cycle, it’s people who bring projects to life — the hundreds of tradespeople, designers and consultants she works with on every project, as well as the entire team at CRAFT.

Murrison’s focus on tradespeople extends to helping other women working in male-dominated industries like construction. She served on SAIT's Women in Trades & Technology (WITT) Board in 2020-2021, showing her dedication to making a positive impact in the community. 

In fact, she’s making an impact in multiple communities, with several projects — some new builds and some renovations — currently on the go across Canada. 

“I’m really in the thick of it right now — it’s exciting,” she says. “I remember the excitement that came with the
chapter of my life when I moved to Calgary and studied at SAIT. This award is a highlight of this next chapter.”