Government

City Council Looking at Middle School Options; High School Project on Time, Receiving Solar Reimbursement

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A new middle school could still be a possibility in the near future, as the City Council discusses the options on Nov. 25, 2026. Above is a vision of what a new Watertown Middle School could look like created by Ai3 Architects. Tuesday night, the future of the Watertown Middle School may be decided by the City Council. Councilors have discussed how to approach the rehabilitation of the school at 68 Waverley Ave.

Around Town

Lane Closure Near High School Project for Drainage Installation

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Drainage will be installed along Russell Street and Broadway for the Watertown High School project. There will be lane closures from Monday to Wednesday this week. See info provided by Vertex, Watertown’s project manager, below. Please be aware that a drainage liner will be installed on Monday 11/24 from Russell St along the lower portion of Broadway to the drain manhole at 24 Broadway. The duration of this work is expected to take 3 days and will require a one lane closure on Broadway from Monday, 11/24/25 thru 11/26/25.

Schools

New High School Building Taking Shape, Featuring Larger Gym, Theater & Classroom Spaces

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A view from the stage of the new theater in the new Watertown High School. A group toured the building on Oct. 29, 2025. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

A wide expanse of gym space, a theater that features a main stage and a black box theater, a two story media center, and large classrooms are some of the highlights of the new Watertown High School building that is about six months away from opening. School and City officials and employees toured the construction site on Columbia Street on Oct.

Schools

Roadway Near High School to be Closed Temporarily for Construction

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The following announcement was provided by Vertex, the City’s project management firm for the Watertown High School project:

Please be aware starting Tuesday 1/21/25 through Friday 1/24/25 (weather-depending), one lane of Columbia Street will be closed between Common and Robbins to allow repair work to previously installed electrical conduits at the pole on the opposite side of the street from the new school. 

This temporary closure will occur daily from 7AM – 5PM, and then re-open.  Access to and from all residents’ homes will be maintained throughout this closure period. We ask that residents please not park along Columbia between Common and Robbins for these few days to allow working room and equipment. There will be a police detail to assist with traffic as needed. Please see the graphic (above) to better illustrate the area being affected. 

Additionally, the project construction site will be open on Monday 1/20/25 – the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday.  The team will abide by the City ordinance will not start construction until 8am. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Laurie Soave, On Site Contact Telephone: 781.565.8688 Email: Lsoave@vertexeng.com

Around Town

Street Closure Thursday for the Watertown High School Construction Project

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A street next to the construction site for the new Watertown High School will be closed on Thursday, according to an announcement from the district’s construction management firm, Vertex. The announcement said:

Please be aware this coming Thursday 11/14/24 Columbia St. will be closed from CommonSt. to Broadway Avenue to facilitate the delivery and hoisting of roof top units that will serve thenew high school. A police detail will be on site to ensure public safety throughout the day.

Schools

Take a Look Around the Half Completed New Watertown High School

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Architects showed the tour the inside of the new auditorium at Watertown High School. The balcony can be seen on the left side. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

While still a mesh of steel, concrete, and wood, visitors can get an idea of what the future home of Watertown’s high schoolers will look like when it opens in 2026. With construction of the new Watertown High School at the midpoint, the designers of the new school led a group of Watertown School and City officials around the four-level school building taking shape between Common and Columbia streets. City Councilor President Mark Sideris, left, and Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli stand outside the Watertown High School construction site.

Schools

Suggestions Wanted for Names of New High School Gym & Auditorium

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Ai3 ArchitectsA rendering of the designs for the new Watertown High School viewed from Columbia Street. The School Committee seeks recommendations from the public for what to name the gym and auditorium at the new Watertown High School. People can send in their ideas to School Committee Chair Kendra Foley, she said at Monday’s School Committee meeting. “I’d like to invite members of the community to make any suggestions for names of the new high school gym and auditorium. Those suggestions should be sent to me at kendra.foley@watertown.k12.ma.us,” Foley said.

Schools

New Watertown High School on Track to be Net Zero Energy

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The entrance to the new Watertown High School is taking shape. (Photo from Watertown School Building Committee meeting)

Progress has been made on the new Watertown High School, and the goal of having the building produce all the energy needed to operate is closer to becoming a reality. When the high school project was approved, it was designed to be Net Zero energy and also meet the LEED Platinum standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. Since being approved in June 2021, the project budget has increased significantly mostly due to the rise in construction costs. City Manager George Proakis told the City Council that the project would be completed, with a net zero energy building, and not borrow more than $150 million to cover the cost.