LEGO Architecture exhibit visits The Henry Ford

LEGO Architecture: Ford Field outer wall, grandstand

A close-up of the Ford Field model's outer wall and grandstand section.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Ford Field close-up

A close-up of the field in the Ford Field model. Even the field is designed in LEGO.

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LEGO Architecture: Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa is the current tallest building on Earth, standing 2,325 ft. (2,684 ft. with the spire) and is 162 stories. It is located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The model is 17'6" tall, consists of 450,300 pieces and took 280 hours to design and 340 hours to build.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Burj Khalifa close-up

This is a close-up of the Burj Khalifa's LEGO contruction.  It's no surprise there are over 450,000 pieces in the full model -- I think I see hundreds in just this little sample.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Empire State Building

The Empire State Building, located in New York City, New York, contains 102 stories and is 1,453 ft. tall with the tower. The model is 7'6" tall, consists of 12,200 pieces and took 100 hours to design and 150 hours to build.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: 2 World Trade Center

The former #2 World Trade Center building, which once stood in New York City, New York, was 1,362 ft. tall and contained 110 stories. The model is 7'0" tall and consists of 14,250 pieces, but only took 12 hours to design and 60 hours to build.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Jin Mao Tower

China's Jin Mao Tower is a 1,381 ft. tall tower (with the spire) in Shanghai. The model is 8'0" tall, contains 16,450 pieces, and took 120 hours to design and 200 hours to build.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Witold Rybczynski Quote

The exhibit contained several quotes on the walls near the building models. This quote by Witold Rybczynski struck a chord in me as I would often be one of those "little architects."

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LEGO Architecture: Transamerica Pyramid

San Francisco's Transamerica Pyramid is an 853 ft. building consisting of 48 stories. The model is one of the shortest in this exhibit, measuring only 4'0" tall. It contains 4,800 pieces and took 20 hours to design and 40 hours to build.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Gateway Arch

St. Louis, Missouri's Gateway Arch is another popular American architectural wonder. At 630 ft. from top to bottom, and 630 ft. from base to base this catenary curve impresses millions of visitors anually. The model, though, stands a mere 3'0" tall and contains 3,200 pieces. It look 60 hours to design and 40 hours to build.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Gateway Arch observation deck

This close-up of the observation deck shows the workmanship involved in a piece even of this relatively smaller size.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Fallingwater

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater house, located in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, is another popular tourist destination due to its position extending out over a waterfall and stream. The model is only 1'4" tall, but it consists of 21,100 pieces. It took 170 hours to design and 130 hours to build.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Fallingwater close-up

This is an up-close shot of the workmanship of the Fallingwater model. It's another very complex and involved design, which can be seen by the intricate brickwork visible here.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Chicago

The last six buildings make up a cross section of what could have been the Chicago Skyline. Instead, however, both the Chicago Spire and 7 South Dearborn were never built. Here are the stats on the various models in this collection (from left to right -- Marina City is the identical pair):

• Sears Tower, which is now known as Willis Tower: 9'6", 5,850 pieces, 20 hours to design, 50 hours to build
• Chicago Spire: 10'0", 17,450 pieces, 150 hours to design, 200 hours to build
• Marina City: 4'0", 9,100 pieces, 60 hours to design, 120 hours to build
• Trump Tower Chicago: 8'0", 11,100 pieces, 40 hours to design, 80 hours to build
• 7 South Dearborn: 10'6", 6,400 pieces, 50 hours to design, 30 hours to build
• John Hancock Building: 9'0", 9,850 pieces, 40 hours to design, 80 hours to build

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic

LEGO Architecture: Marina City

This is a close-up of the Marina City model.  The LEGO architect (Adam Reed Tucker) purposefully left some sections open apparently to allow the viewer to see the internal construction methods.

Photo of LEGO Architecture exhibit by Wally Bahny for TechRepublic