Watertown city and school officials have announced the grand opening of the new Watertown High School, a building that will set the standard for green, sustainable school buildings in the United States.

The new Watertown High School will be the first high school in the country to achieve both net-zero energy and LEED 4.1 Platinum status, making it the most environmentally-friendly high school facility in the country. The $219 million project is the largest capital investment in the history of Watertown.

A ribbon cutting ceremony and open house is scheduled for 3 pm on Wednesday, September 2. Doors will remain open to the public until 8 pm. School, city, and state officials will speak at the event.

The new building at 50 Columbia Street sits on the site of the old Watertown HIgh School, which served the community for 100 years before closing down in 2023.

Watertown High School is the latest significant school building investment made by the City of Watertown. All three Watertown elementary schools have been rebuilt in the last five years, with the Hosmer Elementary School and the Cunniff Elementary School both achieving net-zero energy and LEED Gold status. None of the projects required a Proposition 2 1/2 override. The city is awaiting final cost estimates on a Watertown Middle School project as it aims to rebuild or renovate every school building in Watertown over the course of the last decade.