About 1M Calgary

What is 1M?

1M is a place discovery and innovation platform that accelerates connectivity and creativity in downtowns - one million square feet at a time. We help creators and businesses boost visibility for their projects, experiences and services with tenants living/working nearby as they reconnect downtown post COVID.

Why a million square feet?

Reactivating areas isn't about filling vacant space with mega tenants or big vision redevelopment strategies. It's about learning from hundreds of moves that build momentum over time. 1M helps test and scale an evolving mix of services and amenities, versus leasing spaces in silos that create disjointed experiences across a portfolio of a million square feet.

Where are the 1M areas in Downtown Calgary?

The first 1M project area (“Block 1”) is concentrated on a group of buildings located in/around Stephen Avenue Walk, occupying five blocks between 6th Avenue & 9th Avenue, and 1st Street SE to 4th Street SW. Future areas will come online to the north, east and west in the coming months as we onboard more spaces and projects into 1M.

Who's behind 1M Calgary?

1M Calgary is being led in partnership between Calgary Downtown Association, Makespace and a global braintrust of leading minds, brands and companies working to transform downtowns and cities. The 1M platform is owned/operated by Makespace, developed from our experience gathering modern creators and consumers across a portfolio of one million square feet of space in cities, including retail stores to innovation hubs, maker spaces and food halls. Our leadership team was also behind the founding and development of startup community hubs including Startup Edmonton and Platform Calgary.

What's a "project"?

We think of projects as something that can be subscribed to, engaged with, signed up for, or invested in. Projects on 1M include crowdfunding campaigns, subscription packages or services, culinary or retail experiences, meetup groups and courses. Projects are led by individual creators and curators, or a business or brand, and are based in, or related to a physical space in a 1M area.

Who is a project creator?

Project creators are the founders, entrepreneurs, designers, artists, developers, engineers, and organizers who make our cities and downtowns interesting places to gather. We work with project creators to help them launch projects, experiences, services, ventures, campaigns, meetups and more.

Who is a community booster?

A community booster can be anyone who lives and works in or near a 1M neighborhood, and is interested in discovering, boosting, supporting and investing in projects and services featured in that area. Joining a 1M neighborhood as a community booster is free.

What's the benefit for project creators?

1M helps creators test and promote their offerings, services and products, with area tenants who live and work in the buildings around them. Through a mix of digital tools and community outreach, we help increase visibility, enhance engagement, provide better insights, drive leads and referrals, and generate user feedback.

What's the benefit for community boosters?

The simplest way to start is to ‘join the neighborhood’ by subscribing with your name, email and building (optional). That gets you a curated email of interesting projects happening in the area along with other perks and invitations. Additional features like following projects, providing feedback, and creating a profile are available when you sign up for a free 1M account.

What are you looking for in a project?

During the initial screening stage, we look for signals that help us answer the following:
1. Is this a feasible project that can advance in the next 6 months?
2. Does the creator have the skills and vision to succeed?
3. Has the project moved beyond the idea/concept stage?
4. What progress has been made already?
5. Can the 1M community have a meaningful impact?

How do I submit a project?

After you submit your initial project description, we’ll connect with you to build a project page and creator profile. Depending on your goals and current state, you’ll have opportunities to develop and promote your project to the 1M community through a mix of remote bootcamps, demo livestream events, or be accepted into a 1M Accelerator program, where you’ll receive dedicated mentorship, seed funds, and resources to help advance your project.

How do you decide which projects advance?

This depends on the stage of a project. Once projects pass initial screening for appropriateness, program fit and mission alignment, they are actively promoted to the 1M community, advancing based on a combination of user engagement driven scoring, campaign performance and project reviews by internal team members and external advisors.

Is there a deadline to submit a project?

No, submissions for 1M are always open. There may be particular deadlines however for specific challenges related to a 1M Accelerator program. In the meantime, you can sign up for a 1M account and submit your projects now.

Is there a cost or do you expect equity or royalties?

There is no cost, commission, equity or royalty expectation to boost or list projects on 1M. We partner with flexible space operators, real estate owners, building landlords, business improvement districts, economic development partners and placemaking agencies who use our platform to advance initiatives, provide matching funds for projects, and enter revenue sharing lease agreements that directly support projects and project creators.

I'm a space owner, how do I get involved?

We partner with space owners, building landlords, business districts and economic development partners who provide matching funds for projects and revenue sharing on leasing agreements that support projects. If you're interested in participating as a 1M partner, contact us at hello@onemillionfeet.com.

Rediscover one million square feet in Downtown Calgary.

Accelerating projects, spaces, and services that fuel work and life in and around your building and block.

Discover a million square feet

Boost, back and invest in projects

Give feedback, grow community

A neighborhood of spaces to activate

I want to discover projects

I want to create projects

Project partners

About 1M Calgary

Rediscover Stephen Avenue & 1st Street

We're working to bring projects and spaces to life in your neighborhood

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Rediscover one million square feet in Downtown Calgary.

Accelerating projects, spaces, and services that fuel work and life in and around your building and block.

Discover a million square feet

Boost, back and invest in projects

Give feedback, grow community

A neighborhood of spaces to activate

I want to discover projects

I want to create projects

Project partners

About 1M Calgary