At the annual Brick Bash this year, an Eastern alum displayed a Lego model of Eastern’s campus. Emily Langbehn, who graduated in 2007, built the model without instructions with pieces she sourced from other sets. The model includes Best Hall, Halle Library, the Student Center, and Pray-Harrold.
Langbehn has been a Lego builder since childhood, playing with the sets handed down from her brother. At 10 years old she got a new set of her very own complete with her first girl mini figure, a character she still has in her collection. Two years ago, Langbehn started building models of her own creation, (mocs, as their known in the Lego building community). She broke down existing sets and organized the bricks by color and shape, creating her own workshop in her basement.
“I’ve loved Lego all my life.” Langbehn said.
At first, Langbehn started building small scenes from movies she liked, such as Saw, The Ring, and The Exorcist, that she liked but that Lego had no official sets for. Then Langbehn started branching out, making whole buildings. She’s made models of EMU’s campus, Depot Town, and the water tower. Her system of choosing what to build is “Just stuff I like," she said.
In order to create these complex displays,sometimes she needs more pieces. For instance, the model of the water tower needed over 2,000 pieces. To get those bricks, Langbehn ordered custom pieces from Brick Link, a global marketplace for Lego builders to buy and sell materials.
After Langbehn’s first Brick Bash, her Lego building hobby took off. She found a community of people that she really enjoyed being around and talking with. Creating with bricks is a great outlet for everyone of all ages, not just kids. It’s a renewable art form; every mistake can be fixed, and there have been mistakes. Langbehn learns as she goes, and when things break and fall apart, she builds them back up better than before.
Langbehn’s process involves engineering specifications, some calculations for scale, and miniature sample models. She spends hours in her basement workshop, with The Office playing in the background, using reference photos she’s taken to make her creations. It can take months to finish one project, and when she gets stuck on one, she jumps to work on something else. With no instructions, Langbehn’s technique is just trial and error, tinkering around to see what works. Her advice to new builders is to just start, and learn as you go.
Langbehn views Lego building as her escape. She wouldn’t consider herself an artist in any other regard, but in Lego, her creativity blossoms.
“I find myself looking at buildings and thinking about how I could make them in Lego.” Langbehn said.
Building EMU’s campus was a project near and dear to Langbehn’s heart. Eastern was the first place she felt like home; she loved her time in college. So, she decided to combine her love of Eastern with her love of Lego. The display is complete with building signs in the exact font that she made herself and a mini version of The Eastern Echo. Langbehn also added personal details like mini figures of herself and her old roommate.
For Langbehn, Lego building is not just an individual task. She frequently employs the help of her husband for fresh eyes and a new perspective. Langbehn’s niece Alyosha also played a pivotal role in the EMU project, coming up with new creative ideas.
“Everybody thinks differently.” Langbehn said.
Lego is not just a hobby for Langbehn, it’s a part of her life. It’s an escape, a way to destress and a creative outlet. Her love of Lego is expressed through her Lego shark keychain and her Lego shark tattoo.
Langbehn’s next project will be to make a Lego model of the Literati bookstore in Ann Arbor. Her model of EMU will continue its rounds, first to be displayed at the upcoming Student Media Gala on March 27th, then to Brickworld in Chicago in June.
