In 1889, he was appointed Director of the new École supérieure des arts décoratifs de Strasbourg,[4] winning out over thirty-nine other candidates.
In 1892, the school was able to move into its present building, whose façade he had designed and which was executed by Léon Elchinger [fr], one of his first students.
Exhibits held during the 1890s cemented the school's reputation as an innovative institution and spread its influence throughout Germany.
Among the major changes he made were his emphasis on the workshop over the classroom, and the hiring of younger teachers, who were more open to experimentation.
In addition to teaching, he created decorative panels for the entrance hall and stairwell at the Institute of Zoology (now part of the University of Strasbourg).