Inspiration loomed large for 53 fourth graders from St. James School who began their school week with a field trip to see the library's LEGO® ART+SCIENCE=ARCHITECTURE exhibit which features 13 world-famous landmarks built entirely out of LEGO® bricks. The students came with an important assignment - to think about how they too can build models. Theirs will be Midwest landmarks and will be part of the school’s Creative Learning Fair at the end of May.
"The students were reading the exhibit signs and really paying close attention to how many hours and how much hard work went into creating each of the buildings," said Darlene Potenza, a fourth grade teacher at St. James School. "It was also really exciting for them to see buildings they recognize or have visited either here in Chicago or other places."
The exhibit was designed and created by Arlington Heights resident Adam Reed Tucker, LEGO® Certified Professional. Featured in the exhibit are the John Hancock Center, Marina City, Willis Tower, Trump Tower, Fallingwater, Empire State Building, St. Louis Arch, Transamerica Pyramid and the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
Ranging up to 17 feet high, some buildings are designed to expose their internal structure, so visitors can view the complex and intricate design and engineering that goes into construction of the models. This one-of-a-kind, museum-quality exhibit debuted at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago in 2009 and has since been displayed across the United States.
The exhibit runs through Sunday, May 3 on the first floor of the library.