The Center of Transforming Lives, which began as the YWCA of Fort Worth in 1907 with a mission focus to help low-income women, provides wraparound services to lift women and children from systemic property in Tarrant County. As they have outgrown their small campus near downtown Fort Worth, they are relocating to a 13-acre campus in a revitalized Sears warehouse building. In collaboration with Bennett Partners, Studio Outside used trauma-informed design principles guided the landscape approach throughout the design process. Strategic reuse of the building includes removing part of the roof to create a new central courtyard that has a meditative focus for small groups and individuals to gather for recentering.

The heart of the outdoor programming is a generous play environment for the child development center, which cares for children to the age of five. A well-kept heritage live oak has been named the Survivor Tree and anchors the visual connection between the interior courtyard and outdoor play space. The playground features provide opportunities to spin, swing, and socialize while nature-play components offer a chance to climb and jump and a trike path encircles the play area for bicycling races.

Award:
2024 Texas ASLA Merit Award

Client:
Center for Transforming Lives

Project Partners:
Bennett Partners

Evolving Texas

L.A. Fuess Partners, Structural Engineers

Solare Engineering Unlimited

SavATree