Transforming unused office space into a vibrant learning environment

You know the old saying: when it comes to real estate, the three most important things are location, location and location. While it’s usually said with a wink, this was a key consideration when the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) decided to relocate from the main campus to the downtown core.

SAPL found a new home in the former Nexen building at 801 7 Ave. S.W. Renamed The Valentine after the original designing architect Fred Valentine, the building had been largely vacant for a decade-and-a-half before January 2026, when the school started moving in. 

In response to ongoing conversations about repurposing underutilized space in the core, the City of Calgary committed approximately $9 million toward converting nine floors of The Valentine as part of its Downtown Post-Secondary Institution Incentive Program. The transformation of nearly 180,000 square feet only took 177 days. SAPL was the first project approved as part of the program and, according to Ward 7 City Councillor Myke Atkinson, BComm’06, plays a key part in urban revitalization and Calgary’s future growth.

"One of the best ways to revitalize our downtown is to fill it with people, ideas and activity,” says Atkinson. “It’s… bringing 1,200 students into the heart of the city to support local businesses, connect with the community, and shape the culture and energy of downtown. It's a win for education, a win for the west end and a win for the future of our city."

It also offers opportunities for UCalgary and SAPL students. The move frees up 800 spaces on main campus, creating capacity for high-demand programs and reducing enrolment pressures. At the same time, it brings 1,200 students, faculty and staff into the core for a learning experience that turns the city itself into a living laboratory. With SAPL’s focus on urbanism and city building, being downtown lets students experience first-hand the concepts they study every day. 

“This downtown expansion transforms the educational experience by immersing students in a dynamic city setting where learning extends beyond the classroom,” says SAPL Dean John Brown. “Being in the heart of the city opens new avenues for students and researchers to partner with industry, community organizations and municipal stakeholders on innovative, real-world projects.”

Over nine floors in The Valentine, students will have access to the community-facing City Lab, a digital fabrication workshop, design studios, a robotic fabrication workshop, an exhibition gallery and a community-facing design justice lab. The building atrium has also been updated and is earmarked for public lectures and city-building events.

West End Whirlwind

After completing its move into The Valentine, SAPL celebrated its new home on Sept. 23 with a grand-opening event entitled West End Whirlwind. Guests hosted at adjacent Century Gardens Park sampled fare from food vendors, experienced live music and explored the new space with SAPL-led guided tours.

Attendees also discovered a variety of booths, including some from Alumni Built Businesses, and watched a basketball shootout between UCalgary mascot Rex and Sergio, the mascot from the Calgary Surge.

Formal proceedings started with a blessing from Elder Clarence Wolfleg of the Siksika Nation and the UCalgary Honour Song performed by Anders Hunter. Then guest speakers including Brown, Atkinson, UCalgary President Ed McCauley, and project architect Dr. Darryl Condon, DDes’25, of HCMA Architecture + Design, highlighted the importance of the growing downtown community that SAPL has become a part of.

McCauley cited the city’s latest State of Downtown report indicating $1 billion in public and private investment has supported downtown revitalization programs. This includes converting underused space into residences, hotels and educational facilities.

Atkinson also amplified the significance of SAPL’s new home downtown. “When you help people to come together as a community, when we fill up our public spaces, when we come together and we chart a vision for what is possible in the future, that is city building,” he said.