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A new Lego set featuring the iconic Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, New York, is now available for preorder, offering a hands-on way to explore the city's famous brutalist architecture. The 342-piece set, designed by BuildaMOC using authentic Lego bricks, faithfully recreates the museum and its surrounding grounds. Each set costs $150, with $60 from every sale going directly to support the museum.
According to an announcement by the Everson Museum of Art, the kit is suitable for ages nine and up and includes an instruction booklet that not only guides builders step by step but also shares the building's history and details about architect I.M. Pei, who also designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris. The set aims to teach both kids and adults about architectural ideas like bush hammering and cantilever beams.
Monica Andrews, the museum's director of learning and engagement, came up with the idea after seeing children playing with toys at a library event. She wanted a product that would help the community interact with the museum in a new, accessible way. "Lego kits can sometimes be expensive," Andrews said, according to This is CNY. "This met a lot of our goals in terms of demystifying the museum, broadening access to the museum and learning about design principles."
To further expand community access, more than 55 sets will be donated to public libraries across Central New York, including the Onondaga County Public Libraries and the Northern Onondaga Public Library, where they will be available for checkout as part of their unusual items collections. The kits will be available to borrow from these libraries by the end of May.
Preorders for the Everson Museum of Art kit are open online through Monday (March 31) at BuildaMOC’s website. The museum will also keep some sets for use in its own educational classes.
For more information about the museum, its hours, and how to visit, see the Everson Museum’s official website.