Ed Boxer Goes to Enfield

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It was a dark and stormy night..... Well actually, it was one o'clock in the afternoon during a raging monsoon when we arrived in Enfield, CT - LEGO's U.S. offices, factory and warehouse. As you can tell from the above photo, the weather was terrible. So, by now, you're wondering how we got to tour LEGO's facilities in Enfield. The story continues....

On September 27th, 1998, I received an e:Mail from a member of LEGO's Shows and Events Department who was working on the LEGO Creator Activity Book. Most of the book will deal with how to get the most out of the software. One chapter will highlight actual LEGO models built by LEGO's Shows and Events Department. Another chapter will feature models created by LEGO fans.

"Here's where you come in. I have seen your LEGO castle both in Mania magazine and on your web site. It is truly impressive. Would you be interested in having your castle included in this book?"

Obviously I said YES!!!

In addition to having my castle appear in the LEGO Creator Activity Book, I was invited to Enfield to tour LEGO's facilities. So, on Wednesday, October 14, 1998, we rented a car and drove the 3 hours to Enfield, CT. It was a wonderful tour, in spite of the raging monsoon!! Shown here are the photos, that I was permitted to take, of the LEGO facilities in Enfield. The monsoon, while detracting from the clarity of most of the photos of the exterior of the facilities did create some wonderful reflections in the pavement.

First we toured the grounds. Then, we toured the Special Events division - where all the models and displays are designed and built.

Click on the thumbnails to view the full photo.

LEGO's Executive Offices
Our first stop was the Main offices. Shown here is a photo of the entrance drive to the office. Those bricks must be 10 feet tall.		Here is a close-up of those giant bricks.
	The Main offices.		The 25th Anniversary display in front of the executive office.
The LEGO Factory
We did not get to tour the factory. The photo above is a model of the Capitol building in front of the factory. I really like the reflection of the Capitol in the wet pavement. This model is wonderful!!!!		The LEGO facilities cover an enormous area in very rural Enfield Connecticut. The was the best photo I got of the beauty of the surroundings.
The LEGO Warehouse
The warehouse was still under construction. The design with windows in the corners is wonderful! Lots of big Yellow LEGO trucks!!! All the sets delivered throughout the Americas come from here!
The LEGO Creative Child Care Center
Our next stop showed not only a really great employee benefit, but also an incredible daycare center. If it wasn't pouring down rain, I would have gotten out of the car to play!
The LEGO Special Events Center
Next - on to the Special Events Center where all the models and displays are designed and built.		This photo is me standing in front of a wall of BROWN BRICKS in storage boxes.
	The model builders have rolling parts racks that they refill from bins of every color and size of element - need some yellow elements?		How about the same in white?
Models from the Special Events Center
The modelers were creating displays for South America (a calapyso alligator) as well as Legoland Carlsbad (an automated construction worker). I was not permitted to take photos.		This globe hangs from the ceiling of the modeling room. Incredible detail from square/rectangular elements!!!
	Here is a life size Dragon Masters Knight being wrapped for shipment. And I do mean lifesize. It is about 6 foot tall.		Me sticking my head into a great model of a lion - look at all those brown bricks!!!
Here is a very compact City. Yeah Right! All the great buildings of the USA in one display.
LEGO Employee Awards
My favorite part of the entire tour - Awards for LEGO employees. Here we have loving cups, bride and groom sets, baby pacifers, apples for the teacher, spelling bees, and the official LEGO Gold Watch!!! Every bit of it made totally of LEGO and ONLY for Employees of LEGO!!!			This ends my tour of Enfield. I hope you enjoyed the sites and commentary. Of course your comments are most welcome - edboxer@aol.com