Transforming buildings and lives

The new Center for Transforming Lives will be “an instrument to help”

Renderings of the new Center for Transforming Lives

The design for the new CTL campus prioritizes light and nature. | Renderings courtesy of Bennett Partners

This fall, local architecture firm Bennett Partners received a 2022 Studio Award from the Texas Society of Architects for the design of the new campus for the Center for Transforming Lives (CTL). We’re diving into the design, organizations, and what the center will mean for Fort Worth families.

A group that helps

The Center for Transforming Lives nonprofit works with women and children to disrupt the cycle of poverty and homelessness in Tarrant County. The nonprofit provides housing, early childhood education, economic mobility, and trauma-informed counseling services that work across generations to allow parents and children to find security and well-being as a family.

The CTL has outgrown its current facility at the YWCA — a Texas Historic Landmark at 512 W. 4th St. — and is in the process of adapting the old Montgomery Ward department store at the corner of East Berry and South Riverside Streets in Morningside.

A home for all

The new CTL facility will repurpose the all-concrete building into a multi-use facility with natural light. The design — that will include classrooms, offices, and community spaces — is centered around an open air courtyard. Bennett Partners designed colorful freestanding “houses” within the building for the Early Learning Center.

The new facility will have direct access to the Trinity Metro bus line and be surrounded by park-like outdoor spaces that include a focal heritage tree that represents the survival of the center’s participants.

A firm that cares

Bennett Partners works across multiple sectors throughout Fort Worth, specializing in adaptive reuse projects that preserve and continue Cowtown’s culture — like the Stockyards horse and mule barns and Hotel Dryce.

In addition to high-profile projects, the firm takes on a substantial amount of work for nonprofits, bringing quality design to the community regardless of income.

“We try to approach these projects so the guests get the same dignified and respectful architecture as a person who might make a lot of money,” principal Michael Bennett told us.

“In some ways, those projects have the biggest impact. They’re not always the most visible, but they are used as an instrument to help people,” he said.

The firm’s other ongoing projects include:

Check out the firm’s other current and completed projects across the region.

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Thursday, Nov. 3

Arbor Day 2022 Celebration | Thursday, Nov. 3 | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Golden Triangle Library, 4264 Golden Triangle Blvd., Fort Worth | Free | Learn about the landscape of the beautiful city we live in.
Jessie Montgomery | Thursday, Nov. 3 | 7:30 p.m. | The Modern, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth | $40 | The violinist and composer will perform as part of The Cliburn at the Modern series.

Friday, Nov. 4

The Best of The Who | Friday, Nov. 4 | 8 p.m. | Lola’s, 2000 W. Berry St., Fort Worth | $15 | Who’s Best will play both hits and deep cuts from the early days to the present with energy, excitement, ferocity, and fun.
Jacob Stelly / Clayton Mullen | Friday, Nov. 4 | 7 p.m. | Magnolia Motor Lounge, 3005 Morton St., Fort Worth | $12 | The Texas songwriter got his start in College Station.

Saturday, Nov. 5

Stockyards National Historic District Walking Tour | Saturday, Nov. 5 | 9:30-11:30 a.m. | Stockyards, 131 E. Exchange Ave., Fort Worth | Free | Take a guided tour through Cowtown’s No. 1 landmark and learn about “where the West began.”
Tacos and Tequila Festival | Saturday, Nov. 5 | Panther Island Pavilion, 395 Purcey St., Fort Worth | $69+ | Grab the whole crew and enjoy a day out kickin’ it with your favorite throwback artists while chowing down on DFW’s best chef-inspired taco vendors throughout the festival.
The Return of Tanya Tucker - Featuring Brandi Carlile | Saturday, Nov. 5-Sunday, Nov. 6 | 4 p.m. | The Modern, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth | $7+ | The trailblazing, hell-raising country music legend Tanya Tucker defied the standards of how a woman in country music was supposed to behave.

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

ACTIVITIES ALL WEEKEND

Weather

79º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Sports

In anticipation of Friday’s storms, Fort Worth ISD has rescheduled most of the district’s varsity football games to tonight. Doubleheaders will be played at 5 + 7:30 p.m. at Farrington Field, Clark Stadium, and Handley Field. Check the full schedule. 🏈

Coming Soon

The Shops at Clearfork teased two new tenants on Instagram. According to recent filings, Alo Yoga is scheduled for completion at 5233 Monahans Ave. in February. Check out other new openings in the area.

Health

TCU’s Center for Translational Research received a $1 million grant to study health disparities. The funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will allow TCU and its partners to evaluate how structural racism impacts medical care recommendations.

Festival

The Japanese Festival will return to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden on Saturday, Nov. 5 + Sunday, Nov. 6. Grab your tickets now for taiko drumming performances, traditional tea ceremonies, bonsai trees, food trucks + so much more.

Edu

Fort Worth ISD is channeling HGTV with an interior makeover of the new administration building at 7060 Camp Bowie Blvd. The school board approved a $3 million furniture contract with Irving-based Business Interiors. 🪑 (Fort Worth Report)

Eat

Who doesn’t love Chinese takeout? Now’s your chance to learn how to make it. Head to Indulge FW — inside the new 3rd Street Market — for a cooking class on Friday, Nov. 4, 5-8 p.m. Recipes include beef and broccoli, vegetable chow mein, crab rangoon, and Chinese greens. 🥡

Development

Fort Worth-based developer Trademark Property Company purchased a 45-acre retail property at the gateway of Arlington’s Entertainment District. The Lincoln Square shopping center (at 1500 N. Collins St.) will be converted into a mixed-use development through a partnership with the City of Arlington.

Real Estate

Looking to call the prestigious, gated Montserrat community home? This 5 BD, 5+ BA private estate boasts three living areas, a gym, a theater, a golf room, an outdoor entertainment area with a heated pool and waterslide, and an eight-car garage — all on a meticulously landscaped ~1.3-acre lot. See inside.*

Shop

Calling all party planners. This personalized charcuterie board made by a Texas Etsy seller is a holiday season must-have. It comes with several engraving options as well as a set of four carving knives, making it the perfect way to serve your favorite holiday treats.*

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Heigh-ho, heigh-ho — off to work we go 🪙

Fort Worth becomes the first US city to mine Bitcoin

Photo of Mayor Mattie Parker in front of mining machines.

Mayor Mattie Parker with the mining machines. | Photo provided by the City of Fort Worth.

In April, Fort Worth made international headlines as the first US city to mine bitcoin. The six-month pilot program has concluded + the city has elected to continue mining bitcoin. The program netted $1,019.31 after electricity costs.

While the financial gain may not be significant, the buzz certainly has been. In Tuesday’s city council meeting, Carlo Capua, the city’s chief of strategy and innovation, said the project has garnered nearly 753 million media impressions worldwide, ranging from Mexico to Malaysia.

Not to toot our own horn — FTWtoday was a part of that. Nearly 18,000 people have followed our newsletter coverage + our social media posts have received 9,000+ impressions.

Media coverage of the bitcoin program has contributed to Fort Worth’s status as a leader in technology and innovation + has prompted interest from companies in California, Massachusetts, Maryland, and New Jersey.

Click the button below to learn more about the pilot program + how Cowtown is becoming a tech hub.

CHA-CHING

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Kate.

Editor’s pick: Halloween is over and the die hard fans are already starting to decorate for Christmas. While it might be a bit early for that, people around town are figuring out what to do with their Halloween pumpkins.

The Fort Worth Zoo has it sorted. Zookeepers feed the pumpkins to the hippos — whole. Check out this video of a swimming hippo chomping down on the giant orange veg. 🦛

In case you don’t have a hippo in your backyard, you can dispose of your pumpkins through the city’s weekly yard waste collection program. 🗑

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Take a Business 101 class about the city’s top industries and employers.

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Editorial: Rebecca McRobbie, Kate Mazade, Dayten Rose, Emily Shea, Ashlea Hearn, Josh Kranzberg | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Camille McLeod | Advertise with us.

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