O'Shea Builders Sponsors Playable Crane in Newly Renovated Construction Exhibit

DECATUR, Illinois – Imagine a classic little Lego brick. Now imagine one the size of a toaster.

In “Ready. Set. Build!” at Children’s Museum of Illinois, kids will find a pile of giant Lego bricks waiting to be built into any number of imaginative forms. The newly renovated exhibit officially opened this past week with a gathering of the adult builders who made the reimagined play area a reality.

“The project began pre-pandemic,” says Executive Director, Rikki Parker. “Since reopening we have continued to work with our partners to bring the concept to completion.”

A coalition of community partners led by O’Shea Builders contributed to the rebuild, including Carpenters #270, Teamsters #916, Iron Workers #46, Painters Union, Bodine Electric, and Kenny’s Ace Hardware.

In addition to the Lego blocks is a sizable climbing zone, smaller construction blocks for younger hands, plastic hammers and saws, rubber bricks, and a tall yellow crane capable of lifting materials with the turn of a wheel. There is also a demonstration of how the electrical side of construction works. Hard hats, tool belts, and construction vests are available for kids to fully immerse themselves in the play.

“While building the Heroes Hall addition in 2018, our team formed a special connection with the staff and board of the Children’s Museum,” said Tyler Cormeny, Vice President of O’Shea Builders. “We saw firsthand their passion for creating fun and educational exhibits for families. Of course, we took a special interest in the construction exhibit since construction is our passion. When we heard they wanted to update the construction exhibit, we were all in!”

Parker stresses the importance of framing construction as a vital contribution to one’s community. 

“There’s not a single place in our day to day that wasn’t designed and built by someone,” says Parker. “Introducing that concept to children, that someone like them was responsible for the walls and the electrical and the furniture and so on, that opens kids to the possibilities of what they can do as they grow.”

Children’s Museum of Illinois is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 9:30am to 4:30 pm, and Sundays Noon to 4:30pm. 

For more information, please contact Isaac Cothern at 217-423-5437