The Knudsen Building

Please note that this model contains 2,998 pieces, just under the 3,000-maximum for Lego Ideas submissions.

The "skyscraper" shown here has been designed from scratch and is named in memory of Jens Nygaard Knudsen (1942-2020), creator of the Lego minifigure. Chief Designer, Knudsen worked at Lego from 1968 to 2000 and also, he also worked developing Lego Space and Castle-themed sets.

The Knudsen Building would make an excellent standalone display model, a great playset with which to act out storylines with minifigures, or the perfect addition to a town/city layout, forming the heart of a central business district.

This minifigure-compatible multi-functional building measures 32x32 studs at the base, with the options to either mount it fixed on a single 32x32-stud baseplate, or as shown in the photos here, mounted slightly offset from two 16x32 baseplates, with the inclusion of hinges, so that the structure can be opened up and the interior accessed. From the baseplate(s), it measures 93 bricks (89.28cm or 2" 11.2') high (excluding antennae) and 117⅓ bricks (112.64cm or 3" 8.4') high to the tip of the larger of the two antennae.

Features of the Knudsen Building include:

• The foyer with refreshments station, a reception desk, First Aid room, and visitor's waiting area on the ground floor (US  = 1st floor). Also, on this level on display in the foyer is an architect's scale model of the building. This "building in a building" can also be viewed from a gallery on the next level.

• Office spaces on floors 1 to 6 (US = floors 2 to 7). Included are "Breakout" areas, where the business-minded minifigures can hold discussions and entertain each other with the latest buzzwords. The office areas also include dedicated workstations and "Hotdesking" areas (which aren't too popular with the minifigures whom prefer their own desks).

• The first and seventh floors (US = 2nd and 8th floors) each include a WC (Restroom).

• Floor 7 (US = 8th floor) also has a refreshment area with seating, as well as doors leading onto 2 separate balconies/terraces - a great place to get some fresh air during coffee/tea break time.

• The 8th and 9th floors (US = 9th and 10th floors) each contain a small apartment. Perhaps they could be rented out by the owners... staying here in a room with a view is rather special and perhaps these two apartments are amongst the most exclusive addresses in the city.

• The 10th floor (US = 11th floor) contains a small, slightly cluttered server room - the hub of the building's IT infrastructure. Although the floorspace in this part of the building is now somewhat decreased, this level also has a balcony/terrace area, which can be accessed - perhaps a nice spot for some mindful meditation during stressful work days.

• The 11th floor (US = 12th floor) contains a small indoor observation deck.

Flooring can be removed anywhere throughout the whole of the building's interior (in 6x10-stud plates). This includes a central core, which could be opened up easily to incorporate a stairwell or a motorised lift, powered from the plantroom on the final top floor. Such additions are beyond the scope of this Lego Idea's submission, as are the incorporation of extra minifigures and furnishings due to the part limit of 3,000. The aim here was thus to create a model which can easily be customised further.

In addition to the building and baseplates, the model comes with a handy supplementary set of parts. These can be used if the building without hinges is preferred, and for replacement flooring, should the architect's model be taken out of the interior.