Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools Groundbreaking Ceremony

Cambridge City officials hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 for the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools construction project. Located at 197 Vassal Lane, the new complex will house the Tobin Montessori School, Vassal Lane Upper School, the City's Department of Human Services Programs preschool and after school programs, and Special Start.

This project will include renovations and upgrades to Callanan Park, open space enhancements, including a variety of age-appropriate play areas, multi-purpose fields, and public access to a bike lane and community paths. In addition, the project provides an infrastructure opportunity to help mitigate street flooding in the neighborhood with the construction of a 1.5 million gallon underground storm water tank on-site.

The Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools project is being designed as a Net Zero Emissions Facility and also includes renovation of the open space area around the school.

The City of Cambridge is committed to creating a sustainable and resilient community and has invested over $500 million in three new school facilities since 2011, two of which were completed -- the Martin Luther King Jr. and Putnam Avenue Upper Schools, and the King Open and Cambridge Street Upper Schools and Community Complex — and the final, the Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper School, which is currently underway.

"As City Manager, I can say that not many communities, If any, are able to make the type of financial investments that we are making in rebuilding our schools," said Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale. "This is a significant number for any organization and the reason Cambridge is able to make this investment in our children’s educational facilities is because we take a long-term approach to our fiscal planning. Our success is only possible because of the collaboration that occurs between the City Council and the City Administration and with the School Committee and School Administration."

During the ceremony, City Manager DePasquale also thanked Assistant City Manager for Finance David Kale and Public Works Commissioner Owen O'Riordan for their work overseeing this project, along with Construction Project Manager Brendon Roy, his team and the architects, contractors, and workers that have worked on this project so far, as well as former Deputy City Manager Lisa Peterson for her leadership on this project prior to her retirement earlier this year. 

Additionally the City Manager also acknowledged former Mayor and City Councillor David Maher, who played a pivotal role in passing the Innovation Agenda that lead to the City's commitment to this rebuilding program, as well as former City Managers Robert Healy and Richard Rossi for their financial foresight and project execution.