Transforming Spaces & Empowering Lives – June 17, 2026
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Bennett Partners' Innovative Adaptive Reuse on the Center for Transforming Lives
June 17, 2026 | 5:00p - 7:00p
@ Center for Transforming Lives
The Real Estate Council of Greater Fort Worth is proud to host an event that showcases two impactful projects that demonstrate the power of real estate to transform communities. We'll begin on the ground — with a tour of the building itself — before stepping into the design story behind it.
The evening opens with an exclusive tour of the Center for Transforming Lives (CTL), a non-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive support services to women, children, and families in need. As you walk the space, you'll see firsthand how thoughtful, trauma-informed design creates a safe and nurturing environment for those seeking help. CTL's leadership will share their vision for empowering clients through a holistic approach that addresses physical, emotional, and economic needs, and you'll get a tangible sense of the offices, commercial kitchen, learning areas, and child development center that bring that vision to life under one roof.
After the tour, we'll gather to hear from the team behind the building's transformation. Michael Bennett, Amanda Schulte, Emily Gilmore, and Sarah Glasier of Bennett Partners will take us behind the scenes of their adaptive reuse of a former Montgomery Ward building into the home you've just walked through. They'll explain how they approached the project through the lens of trauma-informed design, and how every choice — from materials to programming to spatial flow — was made to foster safety, dignity, and belonging.
You'll learn about the design choices, material selections, and programming elements that were intentionally incorporated for the people who use the building every day. By sharing their insights and experiences, the Bennett Partners team will challenge our members to consider how their own projects and investments can create lasting, positive change in the communities they serve.
Together, the tour and the presentation tell one story from two angles — the lived experience of a building and the design thinking that made it possible. Don't miss this opportunity to see how strategic partnerships and innovative design can transform lives and revitalize neighborhoods.
Agenda
5:00 – Check In
5:15 – Welcome and Tour of Center for Transforming Lives
6:00 – Trauma-Informed Design with Bennett Partner
6:45 -- Networking
Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Program Host – $1,000
Recognition as the Program host sponsor!
Prime placement of your logo at the event and information table
Your logo featured on all marketing and PR material, emails, social media
4 tickets to the event
Your company tagged on all LinkedIn Promotions
Table Sponsor – $600
Your logo on table signage
Mention in the Program Announcements
8 tickets to the event with prime seating in the front of the room
Contact karen@recouncilgfw.com if you are interested in sponsoring.
TICKETS
FEATURING
Michael Bennett
Executive Partner & CEO
Bennett Partners
A native Texan, Michael has devoted his career to the redevelopment of cities and the preservation of the natural environment. After beginning his career in Texas, Michael spent 12 years practicing in Europe and New York before returning to Fort Worth, joining the firm in 2004 and becoming CEO in 2008.
In Europe he was responsible for a variety of notable corporate and mixed-use projects throughout central and eastern Europe. Michael’s thoughtful design approach and sensitivity to context can be seen in much of the firm’s highly varied portfolio. Michael has personally led the design of many of the firm’s signature projects, including Frost Tower, MOLA at the Fort Worth Zoo, Erma Lowe Hall at TCU, Martin Center at Texas Wesleyan University, the Woodshed Smokehouse, and the Fort Worth Stockyards Horse & Mule Barns. Michael is heavily involved in his community and believes passionately in the power of architecture and design to build a better world.
Amanda Schulte
Senior Partner
Bennett Partners
Amanda joined the Bennett Partners team in 2006. As a licensed architect, Amanda manages projects from initial design concept to final construction completion and project close out, coordinating with clients, consulting engineers, and internal team members.
Some of her key projects include the LEED Silver Southwest Sub-courthouse Addition and Renovation and the Martin University Center on the Texas Wesleyan campus. As an Associate Principal and in addition to her project duties, Amanda also establishes internal staffing requirements with firm leadership, writes project proposals, and helps determine project budgets.
Sarah Glasier
Senior Associate | Accounting Director
Bennett Partners
Sarah leads the accounting function at Bennett Partners, overseeing financial operations, project budgeting, billing, and reporting across the firm's architecture, interiors, and planning practices. She partners closely with project leaders and firm leadership to keep complex, multi-phase projects financially on track from kickoff through closeout, and plays a key role in the financial planning and stewardship that supports the firm's adaptive reuse and community-focused work.
Emily Gilmore, RID IIDA
Senior Partner
Bennett Partners
Emily is an experienced interior designer with a specialization in lighting design. She has experience with a variety of building types, including corporate, residential, hospitality, education and institutional.
Emily‘s experience has spanned all phases of the design process, from programming with clients and helping determine project needs and scope through construction administration. Her expertise brings a unique perspective to projects and allows for cohesive integration of the lighting and architecture, creating well-designed interior spaces.
QUESTIONS?
Contact:
Karen Vermaire Fox
REC of GFW
