NECO Unveils New Clinical Training Center at Beacon Street Campus

New England College of Optometry (NECO) announced the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art Clinical Training Center (CTC) at 424 Beacon Street in Boston. This represents a bold step forward in optometric education, offering students an unparalleled clinical learning environment equipped with advanced technology to simulate real-world patient care.

Relocated from its previous site at 930 Commonwealth Avenue, the CTC reflects NECO’s strategic vision for the future of clinical education—merging clinical expertise, patient care, technology, AI and hands-on experience in a single, immersive setting. Featuring 19 student lanes, a large teaching bay and a training bay with the latest diagnostic and therapeutic equipment available, the facility is designed to prepare students to lead in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. The additional training bay will provide students with an estimated 20-22 more hours of practice time per week.

“This is a proud and transformational moment for NECO,” said Howard Purcell, OD, FAAO, Dipl. ABO, President and CEO of NECO. “The opening of our new Clinical Training Center marks a bold investment in the future of optometric education and the future of vision care. With this new facility, we are changing the way students experience clinical training—and ultimately, changing the way people see the world.”

Loveth Aleburu, Executive Student Council President, underscored the impact on the student body: “This is a highly anticipated and exciting upgrade to our clinical training. This beautiful new facility reflects NECO’s strategic vision and ongoing commitment to staying ahead of the curve, and it empowers us as students to lead the profession with the best tools available.”

Richard Heller, Chair of NECO’s Board of Trustees, added: “This new center represents NECO’s unwavering focus on innovation, excellence, and community impact. We are proud to invest in a facility that allows future optometrists to thrive in their careers and serve patients with confidence and compassion.”

NECO celebrated the opening of the CTC with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 25, 2025, welcoming students, faculty, alumni and leaders from across Boston’s healthcare community to mark this exciting milestone in the College’s 131-year history.