Igniting Interest in Sustainable Construction: The High Performance Building Innovators Club at Watertown High School

Over the course of the school year, CTE students have heard from a series of guest speakers who visited campus to share insights into high performance buildings, energy‑efficient construction techniques, and emerging opportunities in the industry. These sessions were designed to spark curiosity and motivate students to join the Innovators Club — an extracurricular space to deepen their skills, ask questions, and build real projects.

The club is led by Dean Polluci, a dedicated Construction Technology teacher who guides students through applied learning experiences rooted in sustainability, problem‑solving, and collaboration.

The club’s activities align with a remarkable milestone for the district: the new Watertown High School — set to open in 2026 — is on track to become the first high school in the United States certified both LEED Platinum 4.0 and Net Zero Energy. That means the building is designed to produce as much energy as it uses over the course of a year, making it a living example of clean‑energy design and construction excellence for current and future students.

As the High Performance Building Innovators Club grows, members will continue to connect classroom learning with the real‑world transformation happening right outside their doors — building skills that prepare them for careers in sustainable construction and clean energy for years to come.