Many Calgarians know The GRAND as a downtown arts venue with a reputation for interactive, sometimes quirky shows and a community-driven culture. It has become a home for bold artists and equally bold audiences.
This fall, The GRAND is extending that spirit beyond the theatre with a new arts space where artists can rehearse, create and experiment.
A First Look
The new space, called L-Block, occupies the third floor of the Lougheed Building (not to be confused with Lougheed House), which is located next to The GRAND. It officially opened its doors on September 10, inviting local artists and cultural organizations to explore the space and imagine what it might become.
The name is pretty literal. When creating an email address for the new space, executive director of The GRAND Neil Fleming found that “Lougheed Block” was too lengthy, and opted for the much spiffier “L-Block,” which ended up sticking. “It’s also L-shaped, and it separates us from the Lougheed House,” Fleming says.
The building is 114 years old, and it feels like it. The space features wooden doors, narrow staircases with ornate detailing and chandeliers. In contrast to its historic character, four modern elevators carried guests upstairs for the opening-night celebration.
Inside, the floor is, in fact, L-shaped. For now, it is somewhat raw and empty. The interior is plain white, lined with long rows of columns. The team plans to keep the infrastructure simple, using those columns to define future studios. They’re also planning to lay out shared and storage areas.
The opening night set-up was low-key, with a DJ, an exhibition by several local artists, pizza and drinks. But the crowd was diverse, bringing together people from across Calgary’s arts scene: performers, writers, musicians, visual artists, arts educators, arts administrators, promoters, and more.
Guests were invited to complete a survey answering two main questions: ‘Who are you?’ and ‘What can you see in this space?’ The responses will help shape the space.
“We’re gathering the data so that we can prove to funders, to the city and to the province that it’s worth investing in a space like this,” says Fleming.
What L-Block Offers
L-Block was created in partnership with Allied Properties REIT, a major Canadian owner and developer of urban space that owns the building and is technically The GRAND’s landlord for its two-year lease.
The current agreement covers the third floor, which will accommodate 15 artist studio pods: 13 measuring 233 square feet (roughly the size of a one-car garage) and two larger studios measuring between 600 and 700 square feet. By the end of the year, Fleming hopes the space will also contain a rehearsal hall.
The rent operates on a Pay What You Can (PWYC) model, with standard and low-income options. Studios are available on a monthly basis, with a three-month minimum, while the rehearsal space can be rented hourly, with a four-hour minimum, or by the day.
There are still a few practical limitations to work around. Capacity is capped at 100 people on the floor under the fire code. Another challenge will be balancing different artists’ needs without disrupting one another. Sound could also become an issue during the day, with offices located just one floor below.
“We’ll have to figure out pretty quickly how much sound-absorbing stuff we can have in here,” says Fleming. “But we’re open to seeing how things work with any type of artist.”
The space will soon face its first major test, as Chromatic Theatre is scheduled to rehearse a musical there this month.
A Blank Slate
L-Block’s timeline is a masterclass in multitasking: while getting the space up and running, the team is also figuring out how it should work.
The longer-term vision is to expand the space into a more permanent arts hub: “The idea is that it will eventually get turned into an ongoing operation,” says Fleming. “It’s just a blank slate right now, which is one of the most exciting things about it.”
Opening night offered a glimpse of what could fill this emptiness. For a few hours, the bare space was no longer just an empty floor, but a gathering place for artists and guests. The bustle of the crowd and lively conversations brightened the long, dim hall.
“People are hungry for the rehearsal spaces,” says Fleming. “If we could level up the access to artistic space in the city, activate the building and have more street traffic… All of that downtown activation — that’s the big dream.”
Take this survey to share your vision for the space too.
Studio rentals will be available beginning November 15, 2026. For more information, contact lblock@thegrandyyc.ca.
