Tour the first building on campus named after a corporation

During reunion, the college is offering "hard-hat tours" of the under-construction Ford Hall. Currently scheduled to open in January 2010, the building will be the largest in all of Northampton and was vehemently opposed by residents of Northampton.

President Carol Christ blazed ahead, however, and demolished an entire neighborhood of historic homes and the only naturally occurring affordable housing in Northampton--which also had the benefit of being walkable to town, thus reducing greenhouse gases and encouraging a walking and biking lifestyle.

The college has also built a newly opened and operational co-generation plant, which alumnae can tour on Friday May 22nd. Tours require preregistration through the AASC Reunion Resources Web site (not yet available).

Participants in either tour are urged to wear comfortable shoes because there will be lots of walking and stairs to climb. Hardhats will be provided on the Ford Hall site.

View photos of the Green Street neighborhood before it was demolished by Smith here.