2026 Panther Den Urban Design Competition Winners Announced

Six teams. One real-world site. One winning vision.

CONGRATS TO TEAM 5 - pictured here with our Judges:

Mike Brennan, Near Southside; Hunter Campbell, Susser Bank; Greg Jordan, Trinity Metro; David Campbell, Huitt-Zollars; Presleigh Wiley, Westwood Professional Services; Cavan Anton, Quiddity; Clay Westmoreland, Westmoreland Builders; Chad Kerr, Valliance Bank; Hailey Smith, TCU Center for Real Estate; Trent Selman, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.; Ann Zadeh, Community Design Fort Worth; Mark Fryar, Baylor Scott & White.

Not Pictured: Carter Sells, PlainsCapital Bank

On March 5, 2026, the Young Leaders of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth once again brought bold ideas, collaborative energy and visionary thinking to the stage for the 2026 Panther Den Urban Design Competition.

The Panther Den is an annual urban design competition hosted by the Young Leaders of the Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth. Designed specifically for emerging commercial real estate professionals under 35, the competition challenges participants to think strategically, collaborate across disciplines and present transformative development concepts to industry leaders.

From Kick-Off Night on February 5 to Meet the Experts Night on February 19 and culminating in Competition Day on March 5, participants immersed themselves in research, mentorship and team-based problem solving. The Panther Den is more than just a competition. It is a leadership lab, a networking accelerator and a crash course in development strategy for the next generation of CRE leaders in Tarrant County.

This year’s teams were tasked with reimagining the future of Near Southside Station, the proposed TEXRail extension site located behind Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center and adjacent to the Mistletoe Heights neighborhood. The proposed TEXRail Extension extends approximately 2.1 miles from the T&P Station to this new Medical District station, creating an extraordinary opportunity to explore what Transit-Oriented Development could mean for Fort Worth’s future.

Participants were asked to consider mobility and accessibility, medical district integration, neighborhood connectivity, mixed-use potential, long-term economic impact and community activation. The challenge was clear: create a development vision that is financially viable, community-minded and future-forward.

After weeks of preparation, six teams took the stage on March 5 to present their development concepts to a panel of industry leaders. Each team had a limited window to pitch their site plan, development strategy and financial assumptions followed by live Q&A from the judges. The presentations showcased bold mixed-use concepts, creative public realm activation, transit-integrated density solutions and thoughtful sustainability elements.

2026 Panther Den Winner

🏆 Congratulations to Team 5! 🏆

Their winning project, “THE PLATFORM AT NEAR SOUTHSIDE”, stood out for its innovative approach, strategic alignment with transit infrastructure, thoughtful community integration and strong financial feasibility.

Team Members:

Cavan Anton - Quiddity

Joseph Campbell - Susser Bank

Carter Sells - PlainsCapital Bank

Trent Selman - The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co.

Hailey Smith - Student at Texas Christian University

Clay Westmoreland - Westmoreland Builders, LLC.

Presleigh Wiley - Westwood Professional Services

TEAM 5 demonstrated the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration and forward-thinking development strategy. Their proposal captured the spirit of what Transit-Oriented Development can and should look like in Fort Worth.

Well done!!

Thank You to Our Judges

A sincere thank you to our distinguished panel of judges who generously gave their time and expertise to evaluate each proposal and provide thoughtful feedback, Your leadership and insight continue to elevate this program year after year!

... And our Sponsors!

The Panther Den would not be possible without the support of our incredible sponsors.

Thank you to our 2026 Panther Den Sponsors for investing in the future of commercial real estate leadership in Fort Worth. Your support provides young professionals with hands-on experience, mentorship and opportunities that accelerate their careers.

We are deeply grateful for your commitment to developing the next generation.

VIEW PHOTOS + RECAP VIDEO (coming soon)

Relive the energy and innovation of Competition Day.

View Event Photos by Sotos Photos:

Recap Video Coming Soon!

Thank You to Our Real Estate Community

The Panther Den is only possible because of the collective investment of our entire community.

To our sponsors who fund the experience, our industry experts who mentor and guide participants, our judges who thoughtfully evaluate each proposal, our competition attendees who show up to support emerging leaders and most importantly our participants who step up to take on the challenge — thank you!

The Panther Den continues to grow because of you.

We are incredibly proud of what this community built together in 2026 and we look forward to seeing you back in the Den next year!