Georgia Magazine - August 2021 - 9

Georgians AT WORK By H.M. Cauley
Meet Legoland Master Model Builder
Philip Quinn-Simmons
F
or Philip Quinn-Simmons, 40, it was one of those
rare occasions when a wish came true.
After years of sighing, " If I could only get a job
building Lego, I'd be happy, " the Mableton resident
landed the position of master model builder at Legoland
Discovery Center Atlanta at Phipps Plaza. The
gig requires him to offer mini-workshops to guests at
the Atlanta attraction and to-well, just build things
with Lego sets.
That was the basic job description he came
across last fall when he was seeking a change from his
hospitality-management career.
" I'd never heard of a master model builder, and
my first reaction was, 'That's not a
thing,' " he says. " But I
submitted a portfolio
of things I'd built, came
in for an interview and
started in October. "
Without knowing
it, Quinn-Simmons had
been preparing for the
job since he was 5 and
received his first Lego set
as a Christmas present.
" It was a gray castle,
and my brother and father
built it the night before
and put it under the tree, "
he recalls. " I looked at the
instructions, then smashed
instructions, then smashed
it to bits and started building
whatever came to mind.
I still do that-build, smash,
At Legoland, Quinn-Simmons maintains the model of
Atlanta, complete with major landmarks. He explains to visitors
how different pieces work, and he leads six to 10 half-hour
sessions each day in which kids work on projects and get to take
them home. He coaches guests of all ages on building race cars
to compete on the center's racetracks. And he connects with
Lego lovers on social media to keep them informed about
events and promotions.
" But I'm still waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes
with a camera and say it's not real, " he says.
Quinn-Simmons' wife, Meghan, is equally amazed such a
job exists.
it to bits and started building
whatever came to mind.
I still do that-build, smash,
redo-all the time. "
Philip Quinn-Simmons builds small projects (left) and
large-scale Lego creations, such as this wizard (above)
and major Atlanta landmarks, as part of his job at
Legoland Discovery Center in Atlanta.
" She couldn't be more proud to see me land something I've
said for years I wanted to do, " he says.
Quinn-Simmons' ultimate career goal is to work in the Lego
headquarters in Denmark.
" That's where everything still happens, " he says. " I'd love to
work as a designer.
" If I could do this for the rest of my life, that would be great.
As it is, there are still days when I pinch myself. "
H.M. Cauley is a freelance writer from Atlanta.
Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta, inside Phipps Plaza,
3500 Peachtree Road, Suite G-1, Atlanta. (404) 848-9252.
legolanddiscoverycenter.com/atlanta.
www.georgiamagazine.org
9
NATASHA BOLDOE
NATASHA BOLDOE
http://www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/atlanta http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Georgia Magazine - August 2021

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