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For as long as Ben Edlavitch can remember, building has been a constant in his life. Whether constructing LEGOs with his grandfather Poppy, creating simple structures with Lincoln Logs or spending beach days sculpting sandcastles, Edlavitch is a maker at heart.

Edlavitch’s interest in architecture grew as he did. It not only led him to pursue an architecture degree at the University of Virginia, it also turned into an opportunity to be a contestant on FOX’s show LEGO Masters.

Even with the show’s national popularity, as a RVA born-and-bred builder, Edlavitch never lost sight of his Richmond community. Recognizing that architecture can be a challenging concept for teenagers to grasp, and knowing they will one day inherit and shape the built environment, Edlavitch has partnered with youth-focused organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Richmond to help educate and inspire the next generation of informed citizens and future architects.

“I found that LEGO was a really good way to have kids participate in architectural conversations,” said Edlavitch. “LEGO serves as a powerful bridge, making design more accessible, interactive and inclusive.”

The LEGO Group is making investments throughout Virginia, making it a centerpiece of its United States operations complete with a manufacturing facility opening in Chesterfield County in 2027, a distribution center in Prince George County and other projects in the planning phase. Edlavitch is excited to see LEGO expanding in his home state and hopeful for future collaborative design opportunities.

Speaking of collaborations, Edlavitch is helping the Science Museum celebrate all things LEGO this year. With the Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO® Bricks touring exhibition on display, we engaged Edlavitch to build a Science Museum made from LEGO bricks.

Having every possible LEGO brick at his disposal, Edlavitch got to planning and building the replica. Created from approximately 33,000 LEGO bricks over the course of several months, the massive display stands as a testament to the creativity sparked everyday at the Science Museum and the limitless possibilities of LEGO building.

As they walk around the 3D structure located in The Forge, guests will recognize the iconic historic building’s most prominent features. But in addition, they will also see exterior features like The Green and the Earth Kugel on our campus as well as LEGO minifigures running on the Human Hamster Wheel in Boost, experiencing an astronomy show in The Dome and watching the Foucault Pendulum in the Rotunda. Illuminated from within, the LEGO Science Museum feeds curiosity and invites discovery—there’s always something new to notice.

That spirit of creativity extends beyond the walls of the exhibit and of the museum. The new addition to our offerings also inspires guests of all ages to begin building themselves when they leave. We have room for more LEGO masterpieces so let’s see what you can create!

Communications intern Emery Hasenstab contributed to this blog.