As the centerpiece of Yale Divinity School’s pioneering Living Village, “Confluence” is a monumental granite fountain symbolizing unity, shared ground, and ecological stewardship.

The original concept—designed by Yale School of Architecture students Ellen Zhu, Julia Edwards, and Cole Quist—was selected through a competitive design charette. To bring it to life in stone, they partnered with Ryan Ackerman, who served as both sculptor and guide.

Set within one of the country’s most ambitious net-zero, regenerative building projects, the Living Village placed extraordinary demands on material sourcing, environmental integration, and design ethics. The final sculpture needed to be meaningful, structurally sound, low-impact, and sustainably integrated. Ackerman was brought in not just to fabricate—but to evolve the design and mentor the students through every technical and material decision.

“This project was as much about educating the future architects of America as it was about executing the design,” Ackerman shared. “We treated every decision as a learning moment—how the stone behaves, how water moves, how elevation shifts perception. They were all in.”

Over the winter and spring of 2025, Ackerman worked closely with the student team– engaging in regular on-site meetings at the quarry and fabrication studio, as well as countless emails, drawings, calls, and field adjustments. The process became a shared act of problem-solving and precision, involving close coordination with engineers, designers, and landscape contractors. From material selection to elevation changes, from recirculation design to finish type, the process was a shared act of problem-solving and precision.

This wasn’t just fabrication—it was mentorship. Every detail—from methodology and material sourcing to height elevation, plumbing, finish choice, and recirculation—was refined through an ongoing dialogue between sculptor and students.

The final result is a 15x15x4-foot fountain, composed of three massive granite monoliths, each carved from locally sourced New Hampshire granite to meet the Living Building Challenge’s strict regional sourcing requirements. Water flows gently from each block toward a central point of convergence—symbolizing spiritual gathering, ecological responsibility, and collective purpose.

The surfaces are honed and sandblasted, balancing crisp geometry with tactile honesty—allowing the natural voice of the stone to remain present.

Functionally, the fountain ties directly into the site’s reclaimed water system, using fully treated greywater in a closed-loop, zero-waste design. Ackerman worked closely with mechanical and landscape teams to ensure a seamless and sustainable integration.

Set within a courtyard designed for conversation, rest, and reflection, the fountain’s presence is subtle, rhythmic, and grounding—a physical manifestation of shared vision, regenerative architecture, and lasting material truth.

“It’s going to be there for a hundred years or more,” said Ackerman. “And these students will always be able to say: We created that. That’s legacy. That’s public art.”