J. W. Sexton High School

J. W. Sexton High School is a public school located on the western edge of Lansing, Michigan, United States, in the Lansing School District. The principal is currently Sandra Noecker. The Sexton Big Reds are members of the Capital Area Activities Conference. The school has a fierce rivalry with the Everett Vikings of Everett High School on the south side of the city. In March 2012 the Lansing School District announced that Sexton would house 7-12 grades beginning in the 2012-2013 school year.The Building and ArchitectureOf the Lansing high schools, J. W. Sexton High School is the most important in terms of architectural innovation. Designed by the architectural firm Warren S. Holmes Company, in its heyday, Architectural Record called Sexton "a flexible school with latest facilities". Original designs were begun in 1939, and the school district allowed the firm to take two years to draw up an economic, yet long lasting design.ConstructionThe Warren S. Holmes Co. emphasized that the most important part of the entire project was the planning. The firm spent over a year researching the communities needs and wants to create an appropriate structure. Retired structural engineer and partner of the firm, Howard Hunter, recalled an amusing anecdote. He remembered when the firm was researching what educators wanted in their new school, the biology/taxidermy teacher said he would like a conservatory large enough to house considerably sized animals and maintain an entire ecosystem. This was of course beyond the scope of a high school and was not constructed. However, a bigger than average conservatory was built to satisfy the teacher.Construction commenced in 1941, prior to the United States involvement in World War II. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December, construction materials were seized by the government for war production. Nevertheless, the Lansing School District sent representatives to Washington D.C. to request materials. After some haggling, the government agreed it was in the country's interests to complete the school. In addition, more funding for construction was procured from the Public Works Administration. With these materials and money, construction progressed over the next two years, and the school was ready for occupation in 1943.