Our Mission
The Mission of the Ball State University College of Architecture and Planning Indianapolis Center is to be a catalyst for recovering and redefining the experience of urban places, in order to build living cities, models for sustainable urban life.

This mission implies dedication to social and ecological responsibility, to partnership, and to preservation, planning and design. It will be accomplished through the combined interdisciplinary knowledge and actions of academia, professional practitioners and the community.

The CAP:IC will echo Ball State University's commitment to teaching in its four modes of education:

• The Urban Laboratory: learning through action and experience
• Community Forums: learning through communication, debate and dissemination of ideas
• Academic Programs: learning through the studio and the classroom
• The Research Center: learning through systematic observation, documentation, and analysis

The Urban Laboratory
Specifically, the Urban Laboratory will continue and expand upon College traditions for which CAP is already well known such as the Urban Design Studio and Community Based Projects program.  It will be the center for programs of special interdisciplinary investigation, similar to POLYARK and TROPICALIA, that challenge both faculty and students.  The Urban Laboratory will also offer "design and build" opportunities, both short term and on-going, from which everyone involved may learn while making substantial contributions to the community.

Community Forums
Community Forums will take on many forms that will be driven, in most part, by the needs of the Indianapolis community.  For example, "town hall" like meetings will be held on special issues such as the upcoming transportation and comprehensive plans.  The CAP:IC can be an advisor, an advocate or a voice of dissent.  A magazine is to be published regularly that concerns itself with the unique and special issues of living in a Midwestern city and will offer opportunity for printed debate in addition to displaying exemplary designs and ideas.  Eventually, the CAP:IC may host exhibits and tours of Indianapolis and house a bookstore and cafe open to the public.

Academic Programs
There will be a range of Academic Programs conducted at the CAP:IC.  These will include semester and full year residencies for both undergraduates and graduates; full specialized and traditional graduate programs; and numerous continuing education options including college credit programs, certificate programs and workshops.  Two other interrelated programs, a practice curriculum and a professional firm incubator, will also be implemented.  All of these programs will draw on the professional resources available in abundance in Indianapolis.

Research Center
The Research Center will focus on both short and long term studies of architectural, urban design and planning issues of interest to practitioners, public agencies, civic groups and Ball State faculty and students.  Both research to understand urban built-environment phenomena and to inform action will be cultivated.  In addition, the Research Center can serve as an information clearing house and network hub by maintaining a publicly accessible library of research findings, reports and documentation for a range of studies including Indianapolis urban design and planning history.
 

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