Doubling Down on Downtowns

A decade ago, Calgary, Alberta, home of Canada's energy sector, battled through the latest oil price crash. As office vacancies loomed large, the city of Calgary embarked on an ambitious journey to transform aging office buildings into vibrant residential hubs, and identify underused but coveted residential and mixed-use hubs in the city's historic east end. By the time the pandemic hit office vacancies, Calgary's foresight was being lauded by media and urbanists globally, with The Washington Post editorial board declaring that "Calgary offers a road map—and a tool kit—for D.C. and other beleaguered cities on how to make the switch rapidly and efficiently." Today, the green shoots of that visionary planning are sprouting across the city, from the largest arts infrastructure investment in Canada to an emerging Culture + Entertainment District packed with mixed-use community that's home to a new convention center and ascendant cultural beacons, room for 8,000 additional residents and 4 million square feet of new development to active transportation links that connect downtown's new residential reuse with the rest of the city.