PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — It’s not just plastic buildings any more.

Forty fantasy figures made of LEGO blocks capture the fancy of kids of all ages. There’s really no age limit.

The LEGO KidsFest runs Friday through Sunday at the David L. Convention Center.

Chris Steininger and his father, Dan, are LEGO master builders. Yes, that is a job description based in Enfield, Conn. In this case, the skill was passed from son to father.

“I had my first LEGO set, I would say probably when I was around seven years old,” Chris said. “(My dad) saw how much I enjoyed playing with LEGO every day.”

Dan said, “You could build anything out of your imagination.”

At the time Dan was working in a sales position, but eventually got a job with LEGO.

“Luckily I found a position at LEGO where I get paid to play all day long,” Dan said.

Marveling at the works of master builders gets visitors in the mood for constructing their own flights of fancy. Millions of plastic bricks are available to do just that.

It may just look like a pile of bricks, but you never know what’s going to pop out of the rubble. I’m thinking maybe Fifth Avenue Place, PPG building or Gateway Center.

Or maybe just a bridge from father to son.

“It’s art using a different medium,” Dan said. “It’s plastic bricks in different shapes that you can use to make just about anything.”

And you don’t have to be a kid to enjoy it.

“It’s all about being creative, and that’s what I think is the best part about what we do in the model shop,” Chris Steininger said. “And what kids get to do is they don’t have to grow up if they don’t want to.”

RELATED LINKS
LEGO KidsFest
David L. Lawrence Convention Center