Plans unveiled to build the world’s tallest Lego tower at Cambridge University
As one of the most innovative training companies in the UK we are setting architects, engineers and construction companies the greatest challenge of their lives; to build the world’s tallest Lego tower.
The tower will rise to 37+ metres tall – in the grounds at King’s College, Cambridge in 2017.
It’s been 30 years since the UK held the record for the world’s tallest Lego tower. The photo above was taken in Budapest last year, where a team of old and young reached the dizzy heights of 34.3 metres.
The Lego tower project will bring together some of the finest minds, both young and old, from across the construction industry to showcase Britain’s excellence and innovation to the world. King’s College Cambridge has world-class Architecture and Engineering Departments.
Skills4Stem CEO and founder Sarah Davis said: “The UK construction industry is behind some of the greatest buildings projects around the world. The UK leads the way in many ways, but we don’t always celebrate and champion this. As a result, young people do not always look towards the construction industry in search of fascinating and rewarding careers. By building the world’s largest Lego tower, in one of the most iconic places in the country, in front of King’s College, Cambridge, we are setting out to show students and school children that construction is fascinating and fun. The tower will be a beacon of colour and collaboration, showcasing design, engineering and construction excellence.”
Under-graduates and sixth formers will work alongside experts from across the UK construction industry to design and build the tower, tackling serious issues such as the load capacity of a standard Lego brick and how the famous design could affect stability.
Sarah Davis said: “I love how people are responding to the tower. On one hand, it’s putting a smile on everyone’s face, and on the other hand it’s bringing out their serious and competitive side. To show how times have changed, the last time the UK held the record the tower stood at just 15m tall and was made up of around 150,000 bricks. We are going more than twice as high, with in excess of half a million pieces of Lego. We’re absolutely honored to be working with King’s College Cambridge and we are now looking to bring in partners from across the industry, who can bring the expertise and the equipment we need to make this tower happen.”
In 2014, the construction industry contributed £92 billion to the UK economy and created 2.3 million jobs. Research shows this figure is set to grow by 2.9% over the next 5 years, creating a further 224,000 new jobs.
With the project team now hard at work on the ‘nuts and bolts’ (well, plastic bricks really) families and businesses around the UK are now being invited to take part too. A crowdfunding appeal is starting (next week), so people can buy the bricks that go into the tower. With the world record smashed, people will then get their brick to keep.
Sarah Davis said: “We’re inviting families and businesses across the country to get involved and help build the tower. Every brick you buy will take us one centimetre closer to achieving our goal, which means you can say ‘I helped build the world’s tallest Lego tower!’ To build a tower 37 metres tall we need around 500,000 bricks. Having your brick to keep will be something to be proud of.”
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For more details, interviews or photographs contact – Sarah Davis of Skills4Stem on 07967 942962
