MAVA Colleagues,
We are most pleased to share this piece provided to us by Laura Alderson, Director of Career & Technical Education for the Watertown Public Schools.
Students and teachers have been named finalists for the Autodesk Design and Make Awards.
Supported by a Massachusetts Clean Energy Center grant and Lemelson-MIT, the club empowers students to explore clean-energy careers by researching, designing, and constructing high-performance building solutions that strengthen local communities.
Interdisciplinary student teams in architecture, engineering, sustainability, and construction management collaborate with neighborhood partners to design a 600-square-foot, Passive House-compliant, net-zero accessory dwelling unit that applies the Lemelson-MIT Invention Education process to real industry challenges.
<![if !vml]><![endif]>Using Autodesk Revit, AutoCAD, Forma, Tinkercad, finite-element analysis, and 3D printing, students transform research into working prototypes. Their first invention is a thermally broken facade-support system that improves building energy performance and supports continuous exterior insulation.
By integrating workforce development, sustainable housing, invention education, and community collaboration, the program cultivates the next generation of clean-energy leaders while accelerating resilient, accessible, and high-performance building solutions.
Architecture, Engineering & Construction
WATERTOWN HIGH Teachers and Students Named Finalists for Make and Design Awards
Watertown High School students and teachers have been named finalists for the Autodesk Design and Make Awards.
WHS operates the High-Performance Building Innovators Club to advance clean energy, expand affordable housing, and develop the skilled workforce needed to achieve both. The club empowers students to explore clean-energy careers by researching, designing, and constructing high-performance building solutions.
The club is recognized for their design of a 600-square-foot, net-zero home featuring a thermally broken facade-support system that improves building energy performance and supports continuous exterior insulation.
Congratulations to our students and WHS teachers Dean Poillucci (Construction Technology), Jason Welch (Pre-Engineering), and Dr. Daniel Birch (Pre-Engineering) for their outstanding work!
Other finalist in the Architecture, Engineering, & Construction Competition may be found here: Autodesk Design & Make Awards 2025 – Architecture, Engineering & Construction
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Laura L. Alderson, M.S., M.Ed.
Director of Career & Technical Education
VHS Site Coordinator
Watertown Public Schools
(617) 926-7760 X. 36806
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical & Aggricultural Education
LEARNING THAT WORKS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira