Grand Opening of Devon House, October 2021

On Wednesday 20 October, Northeastern University London was privileged to host our friends and colleagues, students and alumni, from London and across the US and Canada, for our grand opening of our new campus at Devon House. This was an evening to celebrate the partnership of Northeastern University London and Northeastern University, and to give some insight into the cross-continental opportunities that will arise for both institutions in the coming years.

I can say with absolute conviction that it was the combination of great company and community, all with the backdrop of a state of the art and brightly designed interior, that made the evening so special. All enhanced by the mouthwatering canapes, of course.

Although Northeastern University London’s move to Devon House was a big change, it has proven more than worth it. Our campus backing onto the Thames places students in the heart of London, where they can access a vast array of museums, galleries, libraries and more. Plus, the campus itself, with its modern tech and facilities, also offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, where students know that their personal development matters on an individual level.

I had the opportunity to MC the event with second year student James Kenneth Haughan. As James and I mentioned in our opening remarks, we have become good friends through Northeastern University London and both feel we’ve been given the chance to prosper and achieve since starting at the University. We were both nervous to speak, rehearsing furiously and laughing at our slip-ups, but I think James would agree that once we were on stage we had the most enjoyable time!

During this part of the evening, we introduced three speakers. The first, our very own Professor Anthony Grayling, who gave a speech emphasising the critical role of the humanities in society today. Next to the stage was Rich D’Amore, chairman of the board of trustees at Northeastern, who discussed how Northeastern University London is the ‘launchpad’ for students’ ‘global experience in this most international of cities’. And finally, the evening talks were brought to a close by the President of Northeastern University, Joseph Aoun, who brought all the students, Northeastern University London and Northeastern, current and alumni, together to celebrate our global community, and mused over the exciting things that we can accomplish going forward.

The event closed with more conversation and drinks – plus those top-notch canapes – before everyone made their way home. The launch party brought together members from across Northeastern University London and Northeastern for a grand in-person event, something marvellous after the many months of only being able to see each other via a screen. I think it’s fair to say that the event truly solidified the relationship between the two institutions, and can be marked as the beginning of many spectacular developments to come.

Watch this space!

Lucy Page, Northeastern University London Alumni