Not just for kids: Steel City LUG offers adults creative, social outlets through Legos
Adult fans of Lego, or AFOLS in Lego terminology, have found their kindred spirits in Steel City LUG, an adult Lego User Group founded by Bethel Park resident Josh Hall.
AFOLs are people who continue to enjoy building with Lego bricks as adults, or have returned, after what in the AFOL world is known as “the dark ages,” a time when other commitments eclipse the joy of creating.
AFOL groups exist across the country, and in Western Pennsylvania, Steel City LUG gives adult brick builders a creative and social outlet.
Their colorful and creative displays can be found around the area at public spaces and events.
Hall, 42, founded the nonprofit social club in 2012. After winning a local Lego competition, he was looking for others to connect with online, but found most were located in the eastern side of Pennsylvania.
Hall started with a Facebook page, followed by an initial meeting attended by a handful of people. The group has grown steadily over the years and today, there are some 700 registered members, though not all are active, Hall said. The required age to join is 18.
Steel City LUG is a recognized Lego User Group, and has a direct relationship with the interlocking plastic “brick” building company.
“When we swear members in, they swear to build with ‘the whole Lego element and nothing but the Lego element,'” said Hall. “A lot of that is tongue in cheek, but there is a lot of loyalty to the Lego brand.”
Hall, like others, drifted away from building sets when he started playing sports as a teenager.
Jonathan Wagner, 46, of Chippewa Township, said he also stopped building with Legos in his teens.
“What got me out of my ‘dark period’ was when they came out with the first Star Wars sets. I started building the sets, the large model ones. I did sets until I joined the LUG and started experimenting with building my own things,” known as MOCs (my own creation).
Wagner joined the LUG three years ago. “It’s a lot of fun to work with other people who like to do the same thing.”
He assisted with building the display at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum over the Christmas holiday. Different talents and backgrounds help when building large displays.
“You need people that have the technical aspect, especially when building structures with a train bridge, but you also need people that are artistic and creative who can say, ‘I can take those pieces and make a tree.'”
Krista Kay, 45, of Ross Township, has been a Steel City LUG member for about a decade. She was also a builder in her youth who lost interest and came back to building as an adult. Her husband and son, age 7, are fellow builders.
Kay enjoys botanical sets and has decorated her house with them. “They are great because you can’t kill them,” said Kay. “If they fall apart, you can just put them back together.”
She also builds MOCs. One of her creations, a 6-foot Pac Man, is lenticular and made with a couple thousand pieces. One side is Pac Man chasing a ghost and the other is the ghost chasing Pac Man.
Kay serves as the ambassador to Lego for Steel City LUG, acting as a liaison, with access to the Lego website and responsibility for keeping the group updated. She also runs brick clubs for elementary schools.
She compares her involvement in Lego to her parents’ love for classic cars. “I get joy and satisfaction (from building). It’s the same as with a classic car. You put the money into it and you make it look good. You put out something you are proud of and enjoy people taking it in and appreciating what you’ve done.”
The group was created and organized by Hall to encourage members in all of their Lego endeavors. There is a quarterly business meeting and ad hoc events, typically twice a month. Members have no requirements to meet and are free to participate when it fits into their schedules.
As a way to attract new Lego enthusiasts and display members’ creations, Steel City LUG members are available to build displays for public spaces and events. The LUG currently has a rotating display at the Carnegie Science Center and displays at Ross Park Mall’s Lego Store, Penn Hills Library and the University of Pittsburgh.
The next display building will take place at Ross Park Mall Jan. 25 and 26 for International Lego Day, Jan. 28.
As founder and president of the LUG, Hall enjoys seeing Lego enthusiasts connect.
“That’s my biggest reward. I love seeing two people who never would have known each other at all, just smile at each other, become Facebook friends and trade building sets. It’s awesome.”
To engage with Steel City LUG regarding an event or display opportunity, reach out through the contact form on their website, http://www.steelcitylug.com.