In line with the Boston nickname coined by Oliver Wendell Holmes, McGraw-Hill Education is building its own “hub” for technology research & development in Boston, which is scheduled to open in June with 60 employees.

The company is hoping to build on their current portfolio of digital products for K-12, higher education, assessment and professional markets.  Current products include the LearnSmart Advantage adaptive learning suite, the McGraw-Hill Practice suite of 3D, multiplayer learning games (recently nominated as a SIIA CoDIE finalist),  and McGraw-Hill Connect & ConnectED, digital teaching and learning environments

McGraw-Hill aims to attract top technology talent by opening their Boston office in the “Innovation District”, a label used by Boston’s Mayor Tom Menino to describe the waterfront neighborhood in the midst of a startup renaissance.

In a press release, Stephen Laster, chief digital officer of McGraw-Hill Education describes their Boston aspirations, saying,”we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform education, and investing in digital technologies – and the best digital talent that this country and the city of Boston have to offer – is a critical element of our strategy to do just that.”

Laster goes on to describe McGraw Hill as a “$2 billion startup” looking to capitalize on its established market presence and an “agile, experimental and creative approach to product development.”  The company is offering team members a creative, innovative, team-centered startup environment and culture, featuring everything from open work spaces to gaming consoles to flexible work schedules.

“We’re looking for people who want to re-imagine what education can be; who have the vision and desire to change people’s lives and serve a global market. Boston is well known for its spirit of innovation and focus on producing technologies that have a real impact on our society, and we’re excited to be a greater part of that,” added Laster.

The Boston office joins McGraw-Hill Education’s other centers in Bothell, Wash.; New York; Columbus, Ohio; San Francisco and Israel.