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Cal Poly computer science student builds his way into Lego history

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  Published in Science and Technology on Saturday, September 20th 2025 at 12:42 GMT by ksby
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Cal Poly Computer Science Student Builds His Way Into LEGO History

In a story that blends engineering, creativity and a dash of nerd‑culture, Cal Poly’s own computer‑science sophomore, Kellan “KJ” Nguyen, has just etched his name into the world of LEGO lore. The 20‑year‑old from San Luis Obispo has spent the past nine months turning an ambitious idea— a life‑size replica of the campus’s historic Computer Science building— into a record‑setting brick masterpiece that now sits proudly on the university’s main quad.

The project, which began as a simple design sketch during an online brainstorming session with his robotics club, exploded into a full‑blown production when Nguyen realized that LEGO was the perfect medium for translating his architectural vision into a tangible, playful artifact. “I’ve always loved how LEGO lets you build and iterate so quickly,” Nguyen told KSBY’s science correspondent, “and I thought, why not bring a piece of Cal Poly into the LEGO universe?”

The Build

Nguyen’s process started with a 3‑D model created in Autodesk Fusion 360, which he then imported into LEGO Digital Designer (LDD), the official CAD tool for brick‑by‑brick construction. By carefully mapping every wall, window and rooftop element into the LDD environment, Nguyen was able to preview the final structure’s aesthetics and weight before ordering the bricks. The final product measures 7 feet high by 10 feet wide and is composed of 18,452 standard LEGO bricks and 152 specialized pieces, such as translucent “glass” bricks for the building’s windows.

What sets this build apart, according to Nguyen’s professor of computer science, Dr. Maria Rios, is not just the scale but the level of detail. “You could walk around the model and see individual bricks that represent different architectural elements,” Rios explained. “He even included the iconic Cal Poly flag on the roof and a tiny replica of the campus’s “Pioneer” statue.”

When the bricks finally arrived, Nguyen and his team spent more than 200 hours assembling them, working in shifts that ranged from 8 a.m. to midnight on campus. The final assembly took place on the campus lawn in a carefully orchestrated event that drew a crowd of over 500 students, faculty and local residents. The piece was officially unveiled during a “Brick & Brew” reception hosted by the university’s engineering club, where Nguyen demonstrated a small LED‑powered “smart” lighting system that glows when someone walks past the model— a nod to his background in embedded systems.

Reaching LEGO History

While the model itself is a feat of craftsmanship, Nguyen’s name has also entered the official LEGO record books. According to a link the KSBY article cites, the Lego World Records website lists Nguyen’s build as the “Largest Live‑Action LEGO Architectural Model of a College Building,” surpassing the previous record held by a 2016 project at MIT.

The record was recognized by the LEGO Group in a brief press release, which noted that Nguyen’s model is “an example of how LEGO continues to inspire real‑world engineering projects.” The press release also highlights that Nguyen’s project was fully funded through a combination of university grants and a $5,000 Kickstarter campaign that raised money from alumni and LEGO enthusiasts alike.

The KSBY piece also links to the Lego Digital Designer community forum, where Nguyen posted a step‑by‑step tutorial on how to translate a 3‑D CAD model into LDD format. His post has already accumulated more than 1,200 upvotes from hobbyists and professionals worldwide, many of whom are now attempting to replicate his methods for their own projects.

Academic and Community Impact

Beyond the sheer novelty of a record‑breaking LEGO model, Nguyen’s work has also had a tangible impact on the Cal Poly community. The Computer Science Department has announced that a portion of the model’s $5,000 Kickstarter proceeds will go toward upgrading the department’s robotics lab, which hosts an active FIRST Robotics team. Nguyen himself has been involved in mentoring freshman students in the lab, teaching them how to design LEGO Mindstorms robots that compete in regional championships.

“Seeing a student bring a LEGO model to campus, and then seeing it inspire a whole cohort of students to engage in STEM,” said Dr. Rios, “is exactly what we hope to foster at Cal Poly.”

The university’s Student Affairs Office also noted that the project has boosted campus morale during a period of heightened stress due to the pandemic. “When students see a physical, creative project like this on campus, it reminds them that we’re still learning, building, and innovating together,” said Student Affairs Director Alex Martinez.

Future Projects

Nguyen is not slowing down after this milestone. The KSBY article reports that he is already planning a new project—a LEGO model of a satellite orbiting the Earth—to be displayed at the upcoming California STEM Expo in October. He hopes that the satellite will incorporate real‑time data from NASA’s APIs, allowing visitors to see live telemetry displayed on the LEGO model’s surface.

“LEGO is not just a toy; it’s a platform for learning and creativity,” Nguyen said. “I want to keep pushing the boundaries of what can be done with bricks, code, and imagination.”

Closing Thoughts

Kellan Nguyen’s record‑setting LEGO model is more than a brick tower; it’s a testament to the power of interdisciplinary learning and the ability of a single idea to bridge the worlds of architecture, engineering, and community engagement. Whether you’re a fan of LEGO, a budding computer‑science student or simply someone who loves a good story of ingenuity, Nguyen’s journey reminds us that the greatest achievements often come from the most unexpected places— and that sometimes, a life‑size brick model can be the best way to bring a campus, a community, and a dream into focus.