The Cast Iron Building

The Cast Iron Building is a 1:40 scale model built as a tribute to its likeness. It was designed and built to commemorate the building’s 150th anniversary, as it joins the exclusive club of historic Poughkeepsie buildings. After six months of design and build time, and overcoming several design challenges, Jared was proud to present the model to the building’s owner, Tom Cervone. The final model uses 38,672 pieces and including its wooden base platform, weighs 109 lbs. Almost fifty percent of the model’s final part count comes from the 1x2 dark orange plates that make up the building’s brick exterior: an ambitious choice made to best emulate the red brick architecture the Cast Iron Building is known for. The interior of the model hosts large, black plate facades that are set back from the windows to add extra depth. The Cast Iron Building model was installed in the front window of the real Cast Iron Building in October of 2022 and remains there to this day, catching the eyes of those that pass by the building daily. 

The final construction of the model took place as Life In Pieces moved offices, which made the build even more challenging. Below are progress photos from the final build and the model’s installation.

“The attention to EVERY individual detail and choice of colors to EXACTLY match every aspect of the Cast Iron Building is mind-blowing! Jared brought a 150-year-old building to life. This art piece looks and feels so realistic! Life in Pieces did an incredible job – a memorable work of art that will be a conversation piece for many years!” - CR Properties Group LLC

Publication

Lego Builder Recreates Iconic Poughkeepsie Cast Iron Building - Sept 20, 2024, Hudson Valley Country

Poughkeepsie Cast Iron Building (and Its Lego Model) - Feb 5, 2025, Atlas Obscura