Downtown office conversion programs

Downtown office conversion programs

The City of Calgary is working with our downtown partners to revitalize our downtown by co-investing and converting vacant office space into:

  • Homes for Calgarians
  • Post-secondary academic spaces and bringing more students downtown
  • Hotels
  • Other uses that revitalize downtown

We’re also incentivizing the demolition of end-of-life office buildings.

A thriving downtown means a thriving Calgary. Repurposing vacant office space in the downtown to build more homes, and encourage students and post-secondary institutions to locate downtown. This will all contribute to more connected, vibrant, diverse and resilient downtown neighbourhoods.

In July 2024, Council approved updated Terms of Reference for the Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program and Downtown Post-Secondary Institution Incentive Program.

 
 

Our goal

Remove 6 million square feet of vacant office space by 2031

Partners in revitalization

$567M partner investment in Calgary's downtown (estimated)

For every $1 The City invests, we leverage $3 in private investment

Our total pipeline

11 office conversion projects

1,400+ residential units
created for Calgarians in downtown

1.57 million square feet
conversion of vacant office space possible

Incentive programs

  • Downtown Post-Secondary Institution Incentive Program

    This program provides incentives for office space conversions to post-secondary institutions to establish a greater presence downtown.

    Learn how to participate

  • Downtown Office Demolition Incentive Program

    The Downtown Office Demolition Incentive Program supports the demolition of end-of-life office buildings that are unsuitable for office conversions.

    Learn how to participate

  • Downtown Calgary Development Incentive Program

    This program supports downtown property owners to redevelop or remove underused office space and bring in a greater mix of amenities and services that support a thriving and resilient downtown community.

    Learn how to participate

  • Plus 15 Fund Offset Program

    The City is providing up to $1 million in incentives to developers who initiate residential projects in the downtown core to offset any required Plus 15 Fund contributions. This removes a potential barrier for new residential development as well as any additions to existing buildings to accommodate new residential use.

    Learn how to participate

  • Housing accelerator fund announcement

    The downtown strategy team welcomes the announcement of the federal government’s investment in bringing new homes to calgarians through the housing accelerator fund. Our team is working internally to confirm the amount of funding available for downtown strategy's office to residential conversion program. Once that amount is confirmed, more information will be shared publicly.

Approved projects

Long description

Downtown Calgary Office to Residential Conversions (as of September 2024):

1. The Cornerstone, 909 5 Avenue S.W. - Peoplefirst Developments

2. Element Hotel, 833 4 Avenue S.W. - PBA Group of Companies

3. Palliser One, 125 9 Avenue S.E. - Aspen Properties

4. Teck Place, 205 9 Avenue S.E. - Cidex Group of Companies

5. The Loft, 744 4 Avenue S.W. - Institutional Mortgage Capital

6. Eau Claire Place I, 525 3 Avenue S.W. - Cidex Group of Companies

7. Eau Claire Place II, 521 3 Avenue S.W. - Pacific Reach Properties Development

8. Taylor Building, 805 8 Avenue S.W. - Cressey Development Group

9. Petro Fina Building, 736 8 Avenue S.W. - Peoplefirst Developments

10. Dominion Centre, 665 8 Avenue S.W. - Alston Properties/Slate Asset Management

11. Place 800, 800 6 Avenue S.W. - Peoplefirst Developments

Download a PDF of the downtown Calgary office to residential conversions map

Click here to download

Have questions?

You can also submit an inquiry to the program team at downtownstrategy@calgary.ca. 

This information has no legal status and cannot be used as an official interpretation of the various bylaws, codes and regulations currently in effect. The City of Calgary accepts no responsibility to persons relying solely on this information. Web pages are updated periodically. ​

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