"Brick by Brick," a new exhibition at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry showcases the work of professional Lego builder Adam Reed Tucker.
'Brick by Brick' —
"Brick by Brick," a new exhibition at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry showcases the work of professional Lego builder Adam Reed Tucker.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The exhibition includes a plastic building block replica of the wooden American Eagle roller coaster at Six Flags Great America theme park in Illinois.
America Eagle Roller Coaster —
The exhibition includes a plastic building block replica of the wooden American Eagle roller coaster at Six Flags Great America theme park in Illinois.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The Lego American Eagle is 12 feet long, took 55 hours to design and 70 hours to build. It's made up of 14,500 bricks.
Toy ride —
The Lego American Eagle is 12 feet long, took 55 hours to design and 70 hours to build. It's made up of 14,500 bricks.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The Roman Colosseum took Tucker 120 hours to design and 75 to build. It's one of many architectural wonders of the world on display at the exhibit.
Lego Colosseum —
The Roman Colosseum took Tucker 120 hours to design and 75 to build. It's one of many architectural wonders of the world on display at the exhibit.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
This Lego replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza is 12 feet long and took 50 hours to design. The "Brick by Brick" exhibition is on display until February 2017.<br />
Egyptian pyramids —
This Lego replica of the Great Pyramid of Giza is 12 feet long and took 50 hours to design. The "Brick by Brick" exhibition is on display until February 2017.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The pyramids took 45 hours build and are made up of 24,000 bricks. A close look reveals that the corner contains rare Lego pieces that are no longer made.
Rare Lego —
The pyramids took 45 hours build and are made up of 24,000 bricks. A close look reveals that the corner contains rare Lego pieces that are no longer made.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Tucker even manages to create a replica of the Colorado River's Hoover Dam, with plastic instead of concrete.
Hoover Dam —
Tucker even manages to create a replica of the Colorado River's Hoover Dam, with plastic instead of concrete.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The semi-complete Lego dam replica stands at 5 feet tall, took 215 hours to design and 160 hours to build. It uses 42,800 bricks. The original, which straddles the Nevada-Arizona border, took five years, opening in 1936.
Under construction —
The semi-complete Lego dam replica stands at 5 feet tall, took 215 hours to design and 160 hours to build. It uses 42,800 bricks. The original, which straddles the Nevada-Arizona border, took five years, opening in 1936.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The Lego recreations are not limited to earthbound wonders. There's even a model of the International Space Station.
ISS —
The Lego recreations are not limited to earthbound wonders. There's even a model of the International Space Station.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Tucker, he says, hopes "people looking at my work will also appreciate and learn about each architectural wonder and the creativity and imagination that's possible with the Lego brick."
'Creativity and imagination' —
Tucker, he says, hopes "people looking at my work will also appreciate and learn about each architectural wonder and the creativity and imagination that's possible with the Lego brick."
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
"As I design and build, I gain a greater appreciation for the structure I am working on and try to capture the essence of the building in its sculptural form," Tucker says.
Sculptural form —
"As I design and build, I gain a greater appreciation for the structure I am working on and try to capture the essence of the building in its sculptural form," Tucker says.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Despite the incredible attention to detail, Tucker says his work is often the result of trial and error.
Golden Gate Bridge —
Despite the incredible attention to detail, Tucker says his work is often the result of trial and error.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Sprinkling some Disney magic on the exhibit, Tucker built a replica of Cinderella's Castle. He explains, "I'm just an artist trying to repurpose a child's toy as a creative tool."
Disney castle —
Sprinkling some Disney magic on the exhibit, Tucker built a replica of Cinderella's Castle. He explains, "I'm just an artist trying to repurpose a child's toy as a creative tool."
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
Tucker's plastic replica of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, took "only" 16,500 bricks to build, 45 hours to design and 60 hours to build.
Burj Khalifa —
Tucker's plastic replica of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, took "only" 16,500 bricks to build, 45 hours to design and 60 hours to build.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
In real life, the Gateway Arch monument in St. Louis, Missouri is covered with stainless steel.
Gateway Arch —
In real life, the Gateway Arch monument in St. Louis, Missouri is covered with stainless steel.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The real version of the One World Trade Center in New York City is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.
One World Trade Center —
The real version of the One World Trade Center in New York City is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
The Chicago exhibition encourages visitors to try hands-on challenges like building and testing structures that could withstand earthquakes and high winds.
Lego challenges —
The Chicago exhibition encourages visitors to try hands-on challenges like building and testing structures that could withstand earthquakes and high winds.
J.B. Spector/Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago