The Living Village, a state-of-the-art residential complex designed to give more back to the natural environment than it takes, has opened its doors to the first Yale Divinity School (YDS) students who will call it home. 

On a sunny autumn afternoon, as the leaves of the new maple trees in the Living Village quad began to turn red, hundreds of alumni, students, faculty, and YDS community members gathered to celebrate the opening of this landmark creation.  

“The Living Village is more than a building—it is a statement of faith,” said Greg Sterling, the Reverend Henry L. Slack Dean of YDS, at the October 6 celebration. “We believe that we are answerable to God for how we treat our environment.” 

The residential complex was designed to meet the seven principles of the Living Building Challenge (LBC), the most rigorous sustainable building certification program in existence, including sustainable water practices, clean energy generation, and building material safety. 

It is on track to become the largest residential facility anywhere to achieve the LBC’s Living Certification and is a featured component of Yale Planetary Solutions, a broader university commitment to innovative solutions to environmental challenges.

“What began as a seed of an idea in 2012 is now, at last, a reality,” said Yale President Maurie McInnis. “The Living Village is a singular achievement and a beautiful addition to our campus. But even more than its beauty, what makes it truly special is its purpose. Every inch is full of intention, every decision guided by respect for our planet and our community.”

Where Faith Takes Form 

Carol B. Bauer Hall, the Living Village’s primary building, stands adjacent to the Sterling Divinity Quadrangle, the historic hub of the YDS campus. Its three sides combine with the quadrangle’s northern wing to form a plaza that leads to the school’s main entrance.

Clad in reddish-brown terra-cotta tiles that echo the quadrangle’s brick exterior, the building blends seamlessly with its surroundings. The second floor features floor-to-ceiling windows facing the courtyard, bathing the hallways in natural light. The surrounding grounds feature gardens, an amphitheater, and a spacious terrace with panoramic views of East Rock. 

Named in honor of Carol B. Bauer, a Connecticut philanthropist and longtime chaplain at Norwalk Hospital, the building offers an array of common spaces, such as kitchens, lounges, and study areas, where students can gather to work, unwind, and connect. Carol and her husband, George Bauer, were the project’s primary benefactors, and their contribution marks the largest single gift ever made to a divinity school.

“God has made us stewards of his spiritual world and his material world,” the Bauers said. “In both, we are expected to help ourselves and others achieve the greatest possible potential. If these young ministers residing in the Living Village can learn what living sustainably is all about, then maybe they can convey that to their parishioners and multiply the message and make the world a greener place. That would be magnificent.” 

A Blueprint for Sustainability 

The Living Village is an example of regenerative architecture, meaning it is intended to move beyond sustainability to enhance and restore natural systems surrounding it. It is equipped with numerous advanced systems to meet the Living Building Challenge, including the solar shingles and a nearby photovoltaic canopy that will produce 110% of the energy needed by the building. The remaining 10% will be used to offset power used on the existing YDS campus. 

Rainwater is captured and stored in two underground cisterns and reused for spray irrigation and laundry. Wastewater is processed onsite and reused for toilets and drip irrigation. All storm water will be captured onsite and absorbed into the ground rather than running off into city storm sewers.

“This project is the result of more than a decade of planning, faith, and persistence,” said Jason Jewhurst, FAIA, principal and partner at Bruner/Cott, the lead architectural firm on the project. “For me, the Living Village affirms that architecture at its best does more than solve technical challenges or achieve performance targets. It fosters belonging.”

That sense of belonging extends beyond the building’s design to the community it supports. Dean Sterling said the addition of forty-nine new apartments helps ease the housing challenges while reinforcing the school’s long-standing commitment to accessibility.

“We are committed to making sure that those who feel called to this work can pursue it within a supportive, affordable community,” Sterling said. “By expanding the availability of high-quality, low-cost housing, we hope to make that journey a little easier and ensure that everyone who feels called to study here can find both a home and a community that sustains them.”

Village as a Verb 

For first-year divinity student Hayden Shaw ’28 MDiv, the Living Village is more than just a place to sleep. It is an experiment in what it means to “village” as a verb.

Shaw is among the first residents to call the complex home and says the experience has already been deeply thought-provoking.

“It’s interesting to see how we as a community are engaging with the questions this building presents us,” Shaw said. “The Living Village is an eco-theological statement in and of itself, but what does it mean to live into that as a community? What’s our responsibility as students?”

Those questions, he added, are not abstract. Each day brings practical and ethical considerations such as composting food scraps, conserving water, managing energy use, and sharing communal spaces respectfully. These habits, he said, are “practical theological exercises” that reflect the building’s ecological mission.

To help shape that culture, residents have begun hosting gatherings and Sunday evening potlucks where discussions range from how to organize compost bins to what it means to live inclusively. Early on, the students covered the building’s glass walls with sticky notes, each marked with a question, idea, or aspiration for the new community.

“We asked, ‘What do we want to learn? What do we want to share?’” Shaw said. “The windows became this colorful collage of hopes, a visual reminder that we’re building something together, even if we don’t yet know what it will look like.”

The Living Village also represents a personal and spiritual journey. After earning a business degree and spending several years in the corporate world, he found himself on a path of ecological and spiritual exploration that led him to Yale Divinity School.  

“I wanted a program and a community that would help me grow as a person and as a leader, which is what brought me to YDS and to the Living Village specifically,” he said. “This building and what it stands for felt like an invitation to engage with the big questions of our time. How do we live sustainably? How do we move toward ecological awareness? How do we care for one another in the process?”

Surrounded by natural light, exposed wood, and open communal spaces, Shaw said he feels both grounded and inspired to engage with these questions. 

“It’s an immaculate building, but it’s also a living organism,” he said. “It brings us into connection with each other, with the earth, and with the deeper intentions behind why we’re here. I already feel like I’m being transformed by this place.”