I TRY to find as many excuses as I can to play with LEGO® bricks. It’s something I never really grew out of, so it was an extraordinary opportunity to work on a scale model of Wheaton’s campus. I was able to use my love of LEGO® to add a touch of whimsy to Wheaton’s beautiful new Welcome Center.

I began by designing the model digitally using a software that spits out a spreadsheet of all the pieces, colors, and quantities required. I then sourced and constructed the model from over 15,000 LEGO® bricks.

Even though the process involved plenty of solitary hours tinkering away on the model, it was ultimately a collaborative effort. People from across campus offered their support. Dr. James Clark, professor of geology, helped me work with GIS software to map the campus. Classmates and friends helped build the dozens of trees that garnish the grounds.

Almost everyone has played with LEGO® bricks at some point in their lives, and there’s an existing emotional relationship with the medium. I hope that the Wheaton LEGO® model makes campus visitors smile. Maybe that dash of playfulness will be a memorable moment in their interaction with our remarkable institution.