This model is based on the main building of the famed Philadelphia Museum of Art, which first opened to visitors at its current site in 1928. The model attempts to capture the Greek-Revival elements of the museum’s exterior and the stylings of the grounds surrounding the museum. But even better for those of us who love LEGO® elements, this model replaces the statues adorning the museum and grounds with LEGO minifigure statuettes and other LEGO elements.

One day, I started talking to my wife about the beautiful architecture inside a building I had recently visited in Philadelphia, and she challenged me to build a LEGO model of the building. After working on that very large model for years, I decided to try building a smaller model at a more-manageable scale (i.e., a model that could easily sit on the corner of my desk). I had been experimenting with roof-building techniques using “Slope 30 1 x 1 x 2/3” elements and wanting to have some fun with minifigure statuettes; and, as one of the most beautiful and imposing buildings in Philadelphia, the art museum seemed like a perfect fit.

It took me awhile to settle on the intricacies of the scale and determining whether to use bricks or plates for windows. But after staring at a pile of elements and reviewing the techniques used in existing models, I decided that plate and tile assemblies were the best path forward. Before long, I had built a physical model of the museum structure, which I ultimately recreated in Studio with the addition of the museum grounds, and which I ultimately recreated yet again in accordance with the BDP guidelines. I’m very happy with how this model turned out.

I hope that you have as much fun looking at my model as I had building it! Thanks for taking the time to look it over!