Bartlett resident wins Lego builder job

This Monday will be Andrew Johnson's first day getting paid to do full-time what many children do in their free time.

He'll play all day, every work day, with Legos.

The 23-year-old was named the new master model builder for Schaumburg's Legoland Discovery Center Chicago this week after he won a build-off contest Sunday at the center against seven other finalists.

"It really is a dream come true," he said, adding, "As a kid I didn't buy any instruction kits. I would just dump out Legos and build whatever came to mind."

The Bartlett resident discovered the job opening from his dad, who showed him an ad in a local newspaper calling for interested Lego enthusiasts to submit their resume and a one-minute YouTube video.

Johnson, who has been building with Legos for as long as he can remember, said he applied the day before the deadline.

Soon after he found out he was one of eight finalists out of dozens of applicants, and that he was invited to compete in a public build-off at the center last Sunday.

He attributes winning to his studies at DePaul University in history and digital cinema - which he said focus on "interpretation and perspective ... an integral part of Lego building" - and his four summers as an instructor at GreenApple Campus, a local not-for-profit organization that provides programs, including one based around Legos, to encourage kids' interest in architecture and engineering.

Still, he said, all the other contestants were "amazing."

"There's definitely a lot of things running through your mind, the foremost of which was to have fun," he said of the build-off, adding that he had to think about managing his time and organizing wisely to finish on time during the two half-hour rounds and a third hour-long round.

Prior to the build-off, the contestants knew nothing about what they would be required to do or what kind of Legos they would work with.

For the first round, which had the theme All Things Chicago, Johnson built a miniature of the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza.

The second round had to be a creation made from between 20 and 40 Lego pieces that the contestants could do with kids that visit the center. Johnson made the Lorax, based off the Dr. Seuss character.

In the last round, the contestants had to build musical instruments, a theme that was suggested by the audience. Johnson made a violin and a harmonica that wrapped around his neck.

He found out the next day that he had won the job.

"I was pretty much speechless, since it was such a unique interview process," he said.

His job at the center will entail creating larger scale models for special events, maintaining models that are currently on display in the center, and designing models for mini master builder workshops - which allows guests a chance to work with him to build their own 20- to 40-piece projects.

"It's just a way for them to do something new that they haven't seen in a kit before and to get those creative juices going," he said.

He is now one of one four people in the United States and eight in the world who currently hold the title of Legoland Discovery Center Master Model Builder.

Johnson said he is getting mixed reactions about his unique job from family and friends.

"My parents were on board from the get-go," he said. "My friends, they pretty much all have conventional office jobs. A couple of them don't really see where I'm coming from, but they're definitely excited for the opportunity."

Johnson said he is most excited about interacting with the guests to "inspire and be inspired," adding that he could see himself working at the job for a very long time.

"I'm sure I will never get tired of doing it," he said.