Some time ago, while attending the education for sustainability conference in Portland Oregon, Professor Robert Koester saw a presentation by Ecosa Institute founder Antony Brown that peaked his interest. It told the story of a semester program bringing a new innovative approach to the teaching of architecture and design. As director of Center for Energy Research/Education/Service (CERES) at Ball State, Koester was already recognized nationally as a leader in the movement to address ecological concerns through the field of architecture. Ecosa’s unique blend of practical, experiential and cross discipline learning with a core emphasis on sustainability was a program that he believed would enhance the sustainability component of the architecture program at Ball State University.

Over the years the relationship has developed and grown with invitations from Professor Koester to Ecosa director Antony Brown to review projects by Ball State’s Master of Architecture students. In August 2007 Brown was appointed as an Adjunct Visiting Scholar in Architecture.

Now thanks to Dr. Koester’s persistence there is a formal agreement between the two organizations to provide credit for BSU students attending the total immersion semester at the Ecosa Institute. This innovative agreement gives BSU students and students from around the world, the opportunity to receive credit for an intensive study of sustainability in a “semester abroad” setting.

“With this agreement we are able to move our concepts into the mainstream of architectural education.” says Brown. “We have been hoping for this kind of connection with an architecture school and for that school to be at Ball State University is especially exciting.”