Watertown High School, the first Net Zero and LEED Platinum 4.0 high school in the nation, was showcased in a piece on a Boston news channel this week.
NBC 10 Boston toured the construction site on Columbia Street for a tour, including the auditorium, gym, and other areas of the new WHS.
Superintendent Galdston said Watertown officials wanted the new school to be the flagship, and a leader in climate resiliency and climate leadership.
Architect Jim Jordan from Ai3 discussed the challenges of building a high school on a site of a little over 4 acres.
City Council President Mark Siders spoke about how the City was able to pay for it using new taxes from development in town, combined with funds from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
The goal for the move-in date at the new high school is April 28, 2026.
See the video by clicking here.
I’m not sure where construction costs stand now (last estimate I saw was at $219 million), but compared to Lexington’s proposed $660 million palace (before inevitable overruns), we are fortunate to be able to afford our humble schoolhouse under way on Columbia Street. It’s not Lexington High, not even President Obama’s presidential center ($850 million and counting), but it’ll do. Much appreciation to all involved, not least to the students and families who have gone without having a high school at all.
What does Obama’s Presidential Center have to do with this? Apples and oranges. BTW, have you been around a major construction project lately? Half a million dollars ain’t what it used to be.
$660 million ain’t “half a million”, and half a million is still more than TWICE WHS’s budget, which is one-THIRD Lexington’s. All of which was to congratulate the City for acting when and how it did. Yet you complain. That’s what makes America great.
PS: As for President Obama’s white elephant (“a metaphor used to describe an object, construction project, scheme, business venture, facility, etc. considered expensive but without equivalent utility or value”), I think you mean rotten apples and oranges. Originally budgeted at $300 million, it’s heading for TRIPLE that cost. Even when built on 19.3 acres of public parkland for the cost of $10 for a 99-year lease. Again, meant to compliment Watertown’s process, but have a go at me if you like. South Side Chicagoans, President Obama’s former neighbors, are still sore about the deal.
Seems rather like a cheap shot at a decent person in an attempt to drag him down to the level of the current President, which, of course would be impossible to do.
Meant to say a half billion and if you work on projects of that size you know that inflation in construction is out of control.