For the record, the existing calendar list layout in Apps is not very efficient in the way it works behind the scenes. It needs a complete rebuild all around. It’s much slower than any of the other list layouts, and lacks some important features, such as limiting the number of displayed rows and having a “See All” option. At the end of the day though, it’s not really much different than any other list layout other than it’s design and a couple of fancy effects.
Due to issues I had with a larger computation intensive table, I created my own version of a calendar layout using a Card style list and some slightly ugly CSS. If you are willing to think outside the box a little bit, you can create a calendar list using a regular list that’s just as functional as a calendar list layout. Pages don’t allow CSS and you may not get the exact look you want, but I think you can get something pretty workable if you are willing to play around a little bit.
This screenshot shows a customized card layout instead of a calendar layout.
