On Monday, more than 1,200 students will begin the school year at the new Lansing Eastern High School.
Walking through the new campus during a special open house, Lansing Eastern alumnus Christopher Alzner said he already likes what he saw.
“You have brighter colors, so it actually looks more wide open so you're not gonna feel like you're crammed in a sardine can," said Alzner.
Formerly Pattengill Middle School, the building was renovated to include a new biotech lab, touchscreen boards in all classrooms, and the school's own athletic fields.
Alzner never had a home field when he played football for the Quakers in the 1990s. Now the opportunity to have one excites him.
“[Current football players] They're gonna feel like they're actually playing at home. Like it's my turf, I have to defend it," said Alzner.
The Lansing Eastern Quakers will face Owosso in their inaugural home game on Thursday. A community tailgate to celebrate the new field starts at 5:00 p.m. before kickoff.
The Lansing School District spent $14 million turning Pattengill Middle School into Lansing Eastern High School. The money came from a $120 million bond passed by voters.
The first Lansing Eastern High School opened in 1928 along Pennsylvania Avenue. The last class to graduate from that building was in May 2019. Sparrow Health System has purchased the building.
