BUILDING HISTORY: The Historical Society of Princeton transformed the Wojciechowicz Barn at its Updike Farmstead headquarters to host “Building Princeton,” now an annual event hosted by the New Jersey-based Building Blocks Workshops. This year’s program is part of the Historical Society’s ongoing Semiquincentennial celebration. (Photo by Matthew Hersh)
By Matthew Hersh
The Historical Society of Princeton’s annual “Building Princeton” returned to the Wojciechowicz Barn at Updike Farmstead last Saturday, transforming thousands of Lego bricks into a hands-on exploration of local history and architecture.
With more than 100,000 LEGO building blocks available, participants worked in teams to re-create Princeton landmarks — from Nassau Hall and Albert Einstein’s home to the Princeton Public Library — while learning architectural concepts and building detailed scale models.
This year’s program included eight additional 18th-century buildings in recognition of the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration, including homes connected to signers of the Declaration of Independence.
The event was led by New Jersey-based architect Stephen W. Schwartz, founder of Building Blocks Workshops, who runs the program alongside his son, Michael.
Schwartz said the fast-paced building session teaches real architectural thinking — often without participants realizing they are learning.
“People are running from bin to bin, making decisions about scale, color, and structure,” he said. “The choices you make at the beginning affect the entire building. You have to work very fast, but you’re learning how architects actually think.”
Teams quickly discover that successful models require planning as much as creativity, Schwartz said. Builders must determine proportions, window spacing, and roof structures before construction begins, and ensure their buildings are strong enough to be moved onto the giant map at the program’s conclusion.
“It’s amazing what people can accomplish in two hours,” Schwartz said. “There’s no time to overthink — you just build.”
Intended for all ages, “Building Princeton” regularly brings together teams spanning multiple generations, Schwartz said, with parents sometimes assisting while children lead the design work.
“I love seeing families work together,” Schwartz said. “There aren’t many activities where children and parents enjoy something together this intensely. I always tell people to take photos. It’s a moment you want to remember.”
The Historical Society first offered “Building Princeton” in 2018, with Schwartz reaching out to them to expand the program, which had been operating in Montclair for several years.
“I was already aware of the workshop and knew it would be perfect for Princeton,” said Eve Mandel, Historical Society director of education and outreach.
“The event brings the community together and it’s fun to see what other people build and I love hearing why people choose their structure,” said Mandel. “Some have a personal connection, some like the history of the place. Parents and grandparents enjoy themselves as much as the kids; it’s nice to see families working together. And of course, we like when teams discover the history of buildings they walk or drive by every day!”
Returning participants are common, according to Schwartz, with many builders arriving early each year hoping to claim a new landmark after completing a different structure in previous sessions.
“They’ll say, ‘I built that one last year — now I want to try another,’” he said. “People come back because they want to learn more about their community.”
At the end of the event, each team received “The Princeton Architectural Treasure Hunt Map,” encouraging families to explore town together and locate the real buildings they constructed.
The concept behind Building Blocks Workshops began nearly three decades ago when Schwartz visited the second grade Bronx classroom taught by his daughter, Lana Sambol, now a resident of Montgomery.
“I was there to explain how cities are designed and I brought some LEGO blocks and we built a city together to show zoning — residential, commercial, industrial,” he said. “When I left, those kids completely understood how a city works. That’s when I realized this approach really worked.”
What started as a single classroom activity has since expanded to historic communities across the East Coast through word of mouth, with programs now held annually in multiple towns and museums.
Schwartz believes the secret lies in combining fun with education.
“We trick them into learning,” he said. “Kids don’t realize that while they’re having fun, they’re absorbing architecture, history, and problem-solving skills.”
Beyond architecture, the program encourages participants to discover local stories, with even longtime residents often learning something new.
“Someone might be building Albert Einstein’s house and suddenly realize they never knew he lived here,” Schwartz said. “The buildings become an entry point into history.”
The lively atmosphere inside the barn — filled with collaboration, creativity, and what Schwartz describes as “kinetic energy” — is part of what sustains the program’s success.
“Building Princeton” was sponsored by Adams Rental, McCaffrey’s Food Markets, NJParenting.com, Princeton Montessori School, Studio Hillier, and Trac Intermodal.
For more on Building Blocks Workshops, go to buildingblocksworkshops.com. For upcoming programming and events at the Historical Society of Princeton, go to princetonhistory.org.