Boston — Jones Architecture recently partnered with the New England College of Optometry (NECO) to relocate its Clinical Training Center from an off-site leased facility on Commonwealth Avenue to the college’s historic Beacon Street campus in Boston’s Back Bay, aligning academic instruction more closely with hands-on clinical training.
Housed within NECO’s collection of four interconnected brownstones, representatives of Jones Architecture say the project reflects a strategic effort to better utilize existing campus assets while enhancing the student learning experience. The Clinical Training Center plays a critical role in preparing students for real-world optometric practice. The newly integrated space combines classroom-based learning with simulated clinical environments, allowing students to immediately apply coursework in a hands-on setting.
At the core of the design is a hybrid teaching model: a flexible classroom for lecture and group work paired with a series of mock exam-room bays that replicate a typical clinical eye exam environment. An advanced audiovisual system connects the spaces, enabling instructors to observe student techniques in real time and share live demonstrations across multiple stations.
Classroom
The relocation presented a unique design challenge: adapting highly technical clinical training functions within the constraints of historic brownstone buildings. Jones Architecture approached the project with a focus on flexibility, integration, and preserving the character of the existing structures while meeting the evolving pedagogical needs of the institution.
“Jones Architecture was a fit for our project from the very start,” said Shawne K. Gillies, CFM, director of facilities & campus planning at NECO. “They brought a perfect mix of creativity and passion, balanced with a calm, measured approach. They met every deadline, were exceptionally professional, and were truly a pleasure to work with.”
