Review: 4000038 LEGO Campus

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Billund has undergone major redevelopment in recent years, between construction of the LEGO House, modern apartments and the remarkable LEGO Campus. The complex officially opened in April, with 4000038 LEGO Campus designed to celebrate the occasion.

Appropriately, the model was distributed to the LEGO employees working at the campus in Billund, although I recently had an opportunity to purchase one myself. I have enjoyed collecting the equivalent LEGO Factory range released before and hope this model will prove even more interesting.

Summary

4000038 LEGO Campus, 1,494 pieces.

This iteration of the LEGO Campus looks fantastic, especially with its intricate windows

  • Unique and accurate architecture
  • Exceptional detail
  • Vibrant colours
  • Positioned off-centre

Box and Contents

4000038 LEGO Campus is unusually packaged, with Architecture branding rather than the plain black boxes of the aforementioned factory models. Moreover, the traditional 18+ border appears across the bottom, even though the actual age recommendation is 10+ instead.

The Architecture branding may bother collectors of the theme, especially because this box does include a flap, unlike 21057 Singapore and 21058 The Great Pyramid of Giza. However, taken in isolation, the packaging looks excellent and eight numbered bags are tightly stowed inside.

Information about LEGO Campus is provided inside the instruction manual, discussing how the architects drew inspiration from a LEGO advertising campaign of the 1980s. There is significant focus on the building's environmental credentials too, while call-outs through the manual identify different areas of the complex.

The Completed Model

Containing nearly 1500 pieces, this model is bigger than the previous factory sets and captures extensive detail, despite its small scale. The base measures 30cm across and is surrounded by the black border commonly found on Architecture sets, which contrasts nicely against the bright colours of the actual LEGO Campus.

LEGO Campus comprises eight interconnected buildings, with an unusual blend of shared and completely unique architectural styles. The variation in design around this model looks fantastic here, as distinctive features appear when viewing from different angles. However, I dislike how the central foyer building is offset slightly, relative to the base.

While branded as an Architecture set, the construction of this model seems more reminiscent of the Factory sets. The designer has made extensive use of 1x1 tiles and the landscaping is very similar to the likes of 4000009 HMV Production, albeit including greater detail. Architecture sets often simplify the landscape to focus attention entirely on the building.

A combination of light and dark bluish grey 1x1 tiles comprise the patio immediately outside the main entrance, reflecting the actual location. The trees look reasonable, although the minifigure statue situated here in reality is missing. Unfortunately, the statue's position was not determined until shortly before opening, evidently after this set was designed.

Giant studs decorate the LEGO Campus and the entrance vestibule, with a yellow 1x1 plate on top, looks absolutely perfect. I like the white studs on the structure above too, while trans-light blue plates form the windows. The band of windows around the atrium looks good and the 4x4 round plate on top is effective, again evoking the LEGO styling of the actual structure.

Unusually for the Architecture range, 21037 LEGO House included some interior. Removing the roof from the atrium reveals a similar feature, as arch bricks are ingeniously integrated to create rounded staircases. This combination of yellow and white looks brilliant, although detaching the roof is actually quite difficult, without placing a brick to serve as a handle on top.

Beyond the expected offices and conference rooms, LEGO Campus also contains an extensive gym and entertainment area, found inside the building to the right of the entrance. The archway on the front is very distinctive and has been accurately recreated using 1x3 inverted half arches placed upside down, while trans-black 1x2 panels occupy the space under the neighbouring 1x4 arches.

The angled yellow structure on the roof houses Niels B. Christiansen's office, providing a great view of the neighbouring LEGOLAND. This is firmly secured using jumper plates. Each building has a courtyard at its centre and these introduce even more colour, as trees and orange flowers decorate the gardens.

LEGO Campus serves as an international hub for LEGO employees, so offers accommodation to those staying in Billund for work. These rooms are found in the easternmost building, with its windows assembled sideways. The adjoining curved building looks superb, again corresponding with the actual campus and including a secondary entrance, opposite the employee car park.

Of the 1494 pieces included, 424 are 1x1 plates. Some appear in the base, but the vast majority form colourful windows and wall panels around the offices. Stacking these plates is tedious, but I love the resulting impression of texture. Moreover, the loading bay doors are cleverly depicted by 1x1 headlight bricks laid sideways.

Bright green tiles cover the roofs, representing sedium plants which collect rainwater and irrigate the courtyard gardens. When I last visited the campus in September, the plants were not fully grown yet, so the roof surfaces seemed rather untidy, but I look forward to seeing the intended design. The contrast between these bright green parts and the darker green pieces on the base is pleasingly clear.

Perhaps the most distinctive of the LEGO Campus' multiple buildings is the cafeteria, which is circular and combines eight 2x3 curved slopes to create an accurate shape. They are decorated with an exclusive window pattern, while the bright green 3x3 curved corner tiles placed on top have only been available elsewhere on Pick-A-Brick walls in certain regions.

The integration of this circular building with its neighbours is impressive, as 1x2 slopes almost completely close any gaps. The white structure looks marvellous too, including numerous trans-light blue windows and containing another restaurant inside, which is used on special occasions and dubbed the celebration area in the instruction manual.

Overall

4000038 LEGO Campus finds an interesting balance between the style of Architecture sets and factory models, offering surprisingly complex detail, alongside building methods common among those recreations of LEGO factories. Ideally, the base would be extended slightly to move the foyer building to its centre, but the model is otherwise very attractive.

The limited distribution of this model might disappoint some collectors, particularly given the Architecture branding. Realistically though, I doubt this set would perform well at retail, even if exclusively available in Billund. Nevertheless, this is an appealing rendition of the new LEGO Campus and a suitable celebration of its opening.

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18 comments on this article

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By in Denmark,

As far as I know, this set can’t actually be purchased through official channels, right? There’s a link to LEGO.com to buy it, but it produces a 404 error. If there is a way to buy it, I definitely want to know.

Gravatar
By in United Kingdom,

Ouch! One for the collectors only I think.

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By in United States,

@CapnRex101 would it be possible to post the instructions please?

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By in Italy,

I'll join the ones asking for instructions: we might as well try and build it ourself, as I see no other feasible options. Thanks in advance.

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By in United States,

@Huw
You should add "unavailable for the public" to the cons list. It's a cool set but completely inaccesable to anyone outside of employees and a few members of the LAN.

Gravatar
By in United Kingdom,

@JimBaggins said:
" @Huw
You should add "unavailable for the public" to the cons list. It's a cool set but completely inaccesable to anyone outside of employees and a few members of the LAN. "

I agree that LEGO sometimes produces items exclusively for specific events or regions, which should have been distributed more widely. However, this set would never realistically be sold, even exclusively in Billund, because it represents such a niche subject. Personally, I think its distribution to employees only is reasonable, although perhaps the Architecture branding should have been avoided.

I will also mention that this set has not been distributed to LAN members, to my knowledge. I purchased it on the secondary market.

Gravatar
By in United Kingdom,

@CapnRex101 said:
" @JimBaggins said:
" @Huw
You should add "unavailable for the public" to the cons list. It's a cool set but completely inaccesable to anyone outside of employees and a few members of the LAN. "

However, this set would never realistically be sold, even exclusively in Billund, because it represents such a niche subject."

A lot of Lego’s output lately could be considered niche, appealing to fans of lots of different subjects. Not sure if this is any different!

Gravatar
By in United States,

@chrisaw said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
" @JimBaggins said:
" @Huw
You should add "unavailable for the public" to the cons list. It's a cool set but completely inaccesable to anyone outside of employees and a few members of the LAN. "

However, this set would never realistically be sold, even exclusively in Billund, because it represents such a niche subject."

A lot of Lego’s output lately could be considered niche, appealing to fans of lots of different subjects. Not sure if this is any different!
"

I think there's a difference between the level of "niche" that is "appealing to fans of mass media/public landmarks/hobbies" (most sets) and one like this. This set is modeled after an internal headquarters that (unlike attractions like the Lego House or Legoland parks) is not open to the public as a tourist attraction. So even the most die-hard fans of Lego as a company would generally have no connection to this new campus apart from maybe seeing pictures of it from people who work there.

Gravatar
By in Netherlands,

While niche, this is a very attractive model and I would gladly buy it.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@CapnRex101
Thanks for the response, the limited access makes sense because of the niche appeal of the set.

Sorry, I assumed you bought the set while in Billund for Skaerbaek or during the special media access and designer interviews then. How much did you pay for it on the secondary market?

Gravatar
By in Netherlands,

@Lyichir said:
" @chrisaw said:
" @CapnRex101 said:
" @JimBaggins said:
" @Huw
You should add "unavailable for the public" to the cons list. It's a cool set but completely inaccesable to anyone outside of employees and a few members of the LAN. "

However, this set would never realistically be sold, even exclusively in Billund, because it represents such a niche subject."

A lot of Lego’s output lately could be considered niche, appealing to fans of lots of different subjects. Not sure if this is any different!
"

I think there's a difference between the level of "niche" that is "appealing to fans of mass media/public landmarks/hobbies" (most sets) and one like this. This set is modeled after an internal headquarters that (unlike attractions like the Lego House or Legoland parks) is not open to the public as a tourist attraction. So even the most die-hard fans of Lego as a company would generally have no connection to this new campus apart from maybe seeing pictures of it from people who work there."

Well, I've been to Billund almost every summer, and I've seen this building being built. You can walk around it, and there's a nice park and fountain in front, so while you're not allowed to go inside, it's still a place (Billund is quite small) where LEGO fans can take a look. For a set it's no different than 40199 Billund Airport.

Gravatar
By in United States,

@rljf311 said:
" @CapnRex101 would it be possible to post the instructions please?"

In PDF form, not a video, if possible!

Gravatar
By in United States,

Is it possible to get clear photos of the parts list pages? This would be a huge help gathering the needed parts. Thank you!

Gravatar
By in United Kingdom,

For comparison great aerial view at https://www.globalconstructionreview.com/new-lego-hq-opens-in-denmark/ The outside ground floor office walls could have being a bit more creative and colourful rather than grey brick, as without the Minifig and Lego logo on the wall bricks I doubt you would realise that this was the HQ when driving past. The large atrium also looks a bit empty, maybe time for a creative workshop to fill up the space.

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