Known for its can-do attitude, vibrancy and love of growth, Calgary is a city that's quick to embraces the latest thing. For the most part, that mindset has translated into new housing and development, but heritage conservation advocates are seeing growing support for a more balanced approach.

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.