AMHERST, Mass., Oct. 25, 2006 (AScribe Newswire) -- Hampshire College has announced plans for the creation of a condominium community for people interested in living near a college campus. Hampshire is working in partnership with Beacon Communities of Boston to develop Veridian Village at Hampshire College, a community of approximately 125 condominiums, which will be located adjacent to the campus on college-owned property.

Veridian Village is being designed for people who wish to take advantage of educational programs and cultural events, and who appreciate a strong sense of community. Homeowners will be considered part of the Hampshire community and will live in an area where they can participate in programs and events at all the schools in the Five College consortium (Hampshire, Amherst, Smith, Mount Holyoke Colleges and the University of Massachusetts) as well as Hampshire's "Cultural Village," a group of museums and organizations located adjacent to the campus and including the National Yiddish Book Center and the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

The idea of a lifelong learning community located near Hampshire, a college just over 35 years old with an 800-acre campus, originated three years ago during development of a sustainable campus plan. College officials worked with faculty, alumni, students, and neighbors to determine the most beneficial ways for the rapidly growing college to develop in a sustainable manner. The intergenerational learning opportunities that could be provided by locating a lifelong learning community near campus were particularly appealing. 

Veridian Village is being planned as a model of sustainable living, with careful attention to environmental design and awareness of how development can coexist with environmental stewardship. Condominiums will be built using green design standards developed by the National Association of Home Builders. Veridian Village will feature a variety of green building and landscaping design features, including bamboo floors, energy efficient windows, and rain gardens and vegetated swales for managing water runoff.

More information on Veridian Village at Hampshire College is available online at http://www.hampshire.edu/cms/index.php?id=9341.