LEGOLAND Boston Q & A with Ian Coffey

We had the honor of interviewing Ian Coffey this week! He is Boston’s new LEGOLAND Discovery Center’s Master Builder.  We wrote a wonderful article about how he won this coveted job this week in a tense competition at Boston Public Library.  Ian is great guy, and we learned a lot about this great new addition to Boston!

ML: How do you find out about the job at LEGOLAND?

IC:  Well, a friend noticed the job posting in the newspaper and after knowing that I have an entire basement filled with LEGO bricks, he thought I may be a good match for the job.  He clipped the article out of the paper with a sticky note saying, “You gotta do this!” and sent it to me in the mail.

ML:  How do you feel about moving to Red Sox Nation? (giggle-giggle! Ian is a New Yorker!)

IC:  My entire family actually are Red Sox fans, I was the black duck in the pot, but I’m happy to embrace the local sports teams! I’m a big baseball fan and honestly support any team. I love the sport so much! Of course if the Yankee’s are playing, I will have mixed feelings!

ML:  What was your first LEGO Set?

IC: There was a basic airport set I played with. Old school set, nothing like the new ones.  It was basic bricks, a square plane, I remember it with the runway and tower.  It was cool.

ML: How old were you?

IC: Oh, I was about 6 or 7…I’ve been playing with LEGO bricks forever!

ML: Who got it for you?

IC: My brother’s LEGO sets were the first ones I played with.  I don’t even remember when I first began playing with them, I was so young.

ML:  Did you have LEGO DUPLO sets?

IC:  Absolutely, I had those first and then moved to the small bricks when my hands and fingers could build with them.

ML:  What are you most excited about in your new job at LEGOLAND?

IC:  To be honest, interacting with the children, showing them how LEGO bricks can be put together and give them ideas.

ML:  Will you office be located inside LEGOLAND?

IC: Yes, my office has glass on two of my walls.  I will be under constant observation. I’m excited for it.

ML:  Will your first big project be building Boston Public Library?

IC: Yes, I’m not sure where it’s falling on the list.  But it will be in my future!  I love architecture.  What a better place than to start my LEGO career by building the BPL.

ML:  Do you believe in the mantra, “You can never have too many bricks?” If so, tell us why?

IC: I legitimately have an order of ‘pick a brick’ in the mail from the LEGO factory in Denmark. I’m still building and I continue to support all that is LEGO. I can NEVER have enough bricks and even have stockpiles I haven’t even used yet.

ML:  What is your take on girls building with LEGO bricks?  Do you see more available to them?

IC:  Yes, I didn’t even know that they have a lot geared to girls, like the LEGO Friends series.  I’m excited to see girls as active as the boys are at LEGOLAND.

ML:  What are your suggestions for kids wanting to be a LEGO Brick Master like you when they grow up?

IC: Honestly, keep living and following there dreams. I went to college and didn’t really know what I wanted to do.  You really just need to follow your dreams and if you want to be a Master Builder just continue to play with LEGO bricks s and push for that dream. Just go for it!

ML:  Is this your dream job?

IC: Absolutely! Without hesitation.

ML:  Thank you so much for letting us interview you today!  Welcome to Boston!

IC:  I appreciate the conversation.  See you in Boston in soon!