When the shuttered King Edward School was transformed into cSPACE King Edward, an incubator for artists, non-profits and entrepreneurs, it proved an ambitious example of the economic, environmental and social benefits of preserving, rather than demolishing, Calgary's historic buildings.

Former King Edward School is reborn as hub for the Calgary arts community

Once a sandstone monolith surrounded by bald prairie, King Edward School has seen countless generations of students pass through its hallways. Its slate staircases bear faint grooves from more than a century of feet, including the hard-soled boots of soldiers that once used its basement for rifle-range training.

Now, 105 years later, the inner-city community of South Calgary surrounds the school, which is undergoing a massive $33.5-million transformation into an arts incubator and artistic venue called cSPACE King Edward.

The school closed in 2001, and was eventually acquired by cSPACE, a social enterprise real estate company that provides rental space, property management and community development. Capital funding for the project has come from the City, province, Calgary Foundation and other organizations.