Beyond the Fort Worth Way: Nashville’s Blueprint for Community‑Driven Design and Engagement is an Urban Design Talk featuring Gary Gaston, CEO of the Nashville Civic Design Center. The session highlights Nashville’s nationally recognized approach to community‑driven design, civic engagement, and neighborhood‑scale planning. Gary will present real examples of how Nashville uses design education, participatory workshops, and public‑realm strategies shape growth and strengthen neighborhood identity.

The session then connects these lessons to Fort Worth and North Texas, focusing on how Nashville’s strategies can be adapted to local planning challenges such as rapid growth, neighborhood change, corridor redevelopment, and the need for more transparent, inclusive engagement practices. A moderated panel will explore how these approaches can be translated into actionable steps for planners, civic leaders, and community members.

This event is open to the entire community and provides planners with a practical, real‑world case study of design‑centered civic leadership.

Moderator:

Michael Bennett, AIA Design Chair, Principal and CEO Bennett Partners

Panelists:

Dennis Antonio Chiessa, UTA Professor & Owner of ch_studio

Ann Zadeh, Executive Director Community Design Fort Worth

Gary Gaston, CEO Nashville Civic Design Center