Founded by Professor of Architecture G.Z. Brown, affectionately known as Charlie, ESBL was officially established in the 1980’s. Starting years before, Charlie’s desire for a sustainable, energy efficient shift in the field of architecture was underway at the University of Oregon. He inspired architects, faculty, students, and engineers to design sustainable buildings by focusing on the use of daylight and passive natural systems to maintain environmental comfort throughout the Northwest and beyond. ESBL employed research and empirical evidence to inform design concepts and worked with students and architecture and engineering firms to translate and apply findings to realized projects. This began a virtuous cycle of using integrated design to inform new research questions and establish a conduit of industry partners for research impact.

As ESBL grew, our scope grew too. With the partnership of our collaborating labs, The Center for Biology and the Built Environment, The Baker Lighting Lab, and the Institute for Health in the Built Environment, we design everything from affordable energy efficient housing to specialized building testing tools. We employ and educate students at the University of Oregon about the broad field of sustainable design. We research human comfort, test which materials are optimal  for people and the environment, how to use daylight to illuminate buildings, and much more. Many of the buildings on the University of Oregon campus have been designed or redesigned with guidance from the ESBL team. 

We are constantly working with the newest building technologies, and solving real-world environmental problems influenced by the design and operation of the built environment.