On October 6, Yale Divinity School unveiled the renovated Divinity Refectory. Complimentary donuts and coffee were offered in the new dining area and the full services of the facility were officially available to students, faculty, and staff on the following day.
Dean Greg Sterling says the new Divinity Refectory will be instrumental in building and strengthening the community.
“The old Refectory was a place to eat, but did not welcome people to come and sit and talk. We hope that the new Refectory will,” says Sterling. “It should be a place that invites students, faculty, and staff to have informal conversations, debates, and exchanges. From these interactions people will form friendships.”
Many hours of planning, surveying, and strategizing occurred across the university in order to make the new Refectory possible, but a small group of students are responsible for the initial efforts that led to the discussion about renovation.
In Spring 2013, several YDS students coordinated an independent survey inquiring about student experiences in the Refectory. Later, administration from Yale Dining became involved and offered to expand the survey through utilizing discussion groups. Yale Dining staff members facilitated the group sessions and received feedback from the general student body, Student Council representatives, faculty, and staff.
After compiling the survey results, members of the administration and staff from Dining Services began discussing the most viable options to address the feedback they received.
“The community in general was unhappy with the food offered and the feel of the dining area,” says Director of Finance and Administration Sandra Lynch. “We wanted to respond to the needs and concerns of the students and the wider community by providing healthier, balanced, and more varied food options.”
Lynch collaborated with Dean Sterling, Dining Services staff, the university planners and architects, and additional consultants and designers to ensure that this project was a success and remained within budget.
“The existing refectory, as well as the layout, was outdated, inefficient and therefore costly to operate,” says Lynch. “We wanted to create a space that was inviting and promoted the use of energy efficient equipment, lighting, and sustainable materials.”
In addition to the food selection and equipment, Lynch says that designing and cultivating a student-oriented environment was also a priority for the team.
“We hope that this newly renovated space will be an inviting place where faculty, students, and staff, as well as our guests, will want to gather,” says Lynch. “We believe that providing an environment that helps to build relationships and community at YDS is part of our mission.”
The renovation began in June and while the refectory was under construction, the Johnathan Edwards Dining Room was utilized for students to purchase food items.
Meredith Day ’15 M.Div., Community Life Coordinator at YDS, says she is grateful to all those who contributed their time and efforts to make the renovations possible and believes the new refectory will meet the needs of the students more efficiently.
“With less grocery items and more fresh food options, the space really fosters a sense of ‘right now,’ which I think ultimately contributes to a stronger sense of community at YDS” says Day. “The new Refectory will absolutely be a place that we are better able to host community events and community dinners.”
Later this month, a ceremony will be held to officially announce the opening of the new refectory. The school will commemorate this occasion by recognizing the individuals involved in the planning process and celebrating a renewed commitment to fostering a strong community at YDS.