In the Summer 2005 Reconnecting People And Place International Course on Regenerative Design and Community, 17 students from TEC de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico and 7 students from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, USA engaged in a 5 week long journey through central Mexico to discover and learn about community, sustainability, and regenerative housing as well as learn how to work towards a common goal with people of different cultures. As part of the trip, they worked with residents of a small town to master planning an eco-village, design a prototypical green home, and initiate construction of the home to be completed by the community and future BSU-TEC field study groups.

To prepare for the trip, students participated in Spring 2005 BSU-TEC  videoconferences that included socialization, theory development, and review of previous work in el Carmen.  The Summer RPP in Mexico included three courses:  Regional Environment and Building Traditions (3 CR), Theory of Interdisciplinary Community Development (3 CR), and Design-Build Studio (3 CR).

This summer 2005 Reconnecting People and Place study abroad included master planning a 20 home eco-village and design and initial construction of a prototype green home at the wastewater treatment plant using locally-produced green materials and regional technologies. Students worked alongside local craftsmen and residents to develop, test and select alternative green materials and technologies, and to build a significant proportion of the home.