Since December 2021, construction has been underway on the new Tobin Montessori School and Vassal Lane Upper Schools to replace the existing school located between Vassal Lane, Concord Avenue, and Alpine Street. The new, state-of-the-art facility will house the Tobin Montessori School, Vassal Lane Upper School (VLUS), Department of Human Services Programs preschool and after school programs, and Special Start. It is expected to open to students in Fall 2025.
On Thursday, September 21, 2023, we celebrated an exciting construction milestone, as the final steel beam, signed in colorful markers by Tobin and VLUS students and staff, was added onto the building’s foundation during a “Topping Off'' ceremony. The final beam represents the link that our current school community has to generations of future scholars, and we are proud of the mark they have made on this incredible facility. Its overall design reflects the high standards for educational success in the City of Cambridge.
Other highlights of the project:
- Students, staff, and administrative leaders from across CPS played an instrumental role in the planning and development of this structure, including carefully selecting materials that align with the Tobin Montessori educational mission.
- Designed to be Net-Zero Emissions under the City of Cambridge’s Net Zero Action Plan, the 359,100 square foot building and indoor parking garage will be the most sustainable and energy efficient school building in the city.
- The project includes renovations and upgrades to Callanan Park, including a variety of age-appropriate play areas, multi-purpose fields, and public access to a bike lane and community paths.
- The project provides infrastructure improvements to mitigate potential future street flooding with the construction of a 1.25 million gallon underground stormwater tank on site.
For continuous updates on the project, please visit the city’s website.