Poughkeepsie Cast Iron Building (and Its Lego Model)

Downtown Poughkeepsie's 1872 Cast Iron Building is a monumental tribute to the material that dominates its facade. Cast iron was popular in the 19th century for its structural, ornamental, and fire-resistant properties. The building was designed by architect James S. Post and built on the site where a home had previously burnt down, as a testament to the material's integrity. The strength of cast iron is showcased in the building's slender vertical columns holding up the buildings immense weight.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the building, Jared Oswald of Life in Pieces Brick Shop Design Studio built a 1:45 scale model out of 38,672 Lego bricks. The model took six months, weighs 109 pounds, and sits in the building's storefront.