This summer, Northeastern’s IT Services team delivered and advanced work on 50+ classrooms across global campuses—modernizing instructional technology, expanding teaching capacity, and reinforcing operational efficiency. From Boston to London to Toronto, the Global Learning Spaces (GLS) initiative continues to strengthen Northeastern University’s mission through consistent, high-quality learning environments wherever students and faculty engage, while laying the groundwork for future-ready innovation.
Why GLS classroom standardization is important
Consistent audiovisual (AV) infrastructure offers a seamless learning environment that supports a mobile academic community. The GLS classroom standardization initiative has delivered significant benefits across Northeastern’s global network, improving both teaching and learning effectiveness and operational efficiency. For example, the standardization has allowed Northeastern to negotiate with vendors and lower costs.
These upgrades not only elevate the classroom experience for students and faculty, but also reduce technical disruptions and support complexity, freeing ITS resources to drive Northeastern’s broader digital transformation. Service call duration in GLS classrooms has been reduced by an average of 45%. The rates at which technicians can resolve problems on-the-spot have increased to 94%.
The first Global Learning Spaces came online in fall 2022. In the three years since, ITS has installed hundreds more of these spaces, including 41% of all 451 Registrar-managed classrooms across the global network.
Boston – Behrakis classrooms
Thirteen classrooms in Behrakis were modernized with GLS-standard AV technology, ensuring every space supports consistent, high-quality teaching and learning. Delivered through seamless collaboration between AV and Network teams, the initiative was executed on time and to standard.
London – Portsoken building
Two new floors of teaching and learning space were released in time for fall 2025, adding eight new classrooms, four state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, and 17 huddle spaces. With the addition of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Makerspace labs, Northeastern London can now host its own lab courses for the first time, reducing reliance on external providers. The project also created a permanent home for the Network Science Institute, strengthening integration into the campus community.
Toronto – Phased AV modernization
10 classrooms on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors were completed with upgraded AV systems this summer, with an additional five classrooms slated for completion by the end of 2025. These upgrades are part of a broader modernization initiative designed to bring Toronto classrooms in line with GLS standards.
Seattle – Targeted upgrade
One Seattle classroom received a full AV upgrade, ensuring parity with the broader global standardization efforts.
Advanced Routing – Multi-campus rollout
Advanced routing features were launched across 15 classrooms in Boston, Seattle, and Vancouver, empowering faculty to dynamically control what content displays on multiple classroom screens. This upgrade enhances teaching flexibility and interactivity while laying groundwork for expanded deployment across global campuses.
Driving global impact
In total, 50+ classrooms were modernized, added, or are slated for delivery by the end of 2025, spanning Boston, London, Toronto, Seattle, and Vancouver. Together, these projects demonstrate Northeastern’s commitment to a globally consistent learning experience, combining modernized AV infrastructure with innovative features that enhance teaching effectiveness.
By standardizing technology, reducing support complexity, and expanding campus capabilities, ITS is enabling faculty and students worldwide to engage in high-performance, future-ready learning environments.