Yale-New Haven Cool Mural Project Unveiling

Yale School of the Environment

Yale and the City of New Haven unveiled “Thermal Reflections,” a 255-foot climate-cooling mural at the Goffe Street Armory created through a collaboration between the Yale Schools of Art and Environment.

The mural, by Connecticut artist Michael DeAngelo, uses specialized heat-reflective paint to help combat urban heat island effects while engaging the community in climate action. Spanning 255 by 50 feet, the design depicts a visual transition from red urban heat to cooling blues through the hoops of a community garden – representing a doorway to environmental stewardship. The unveiling brought together Mayor Justin Elicker, Yale Planetary Solutions Director Julie Zimmerman, Yale School of Art Dean Kymberly Pinder, YSE Professor Karen Seto, representatives from the Connecticut Freedom Trail, and members of the Armory Garden and Armory Advisory Committee. The project responds to New Haven’s climate vulnerabilities, where 85% of residents face risks from extreme heat, and demonstrates how public art can serve as both functional climate adaptation and community engagement.

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