RenLUG

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RenLUG – Central Florida’s LEGO® User Group

An inclusive adult LEGO® community for serious builders, creators, and collaborators — inspiring builders since 2019.

RenLUG brings Adult Fans of LEGO® (AFOLs) together to build, learn, and share through collaborative creations, public exhibitions, and community partnerships across Central Florida.

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Events & Workshops

RenLUG Great Ball Contraption – Engineering Chain Reactions with LEGO®

RenLUG Great Ball Contraption – Engineering Chain Reactions with LEGO®

The Great Ball Contraption (GBC) is an interactive, collaborative LEGO® engineering exhibit that demonstrates core principles of mechanical design, energy transfer, and systems engineering through motion. GBC hands on workshops developed and presented by RenLUG (Renaissance LEGO User Group), this large-scale kinetic sculpture engages participants, especially girls and young women, in creative problem-solving while showing that engineering can be imaginative, artistic, and fun.

A GBC consists of a series of individually engineered modules, each designed to move small LEGO® balls through a continuous loop using gears, levers, conveyors, and lift mechanisms. Each builder’s module must meet precise design and timing requirements so it can connect and work seamlessly with others – mirroring the collaborative, interdisciplinary nature of real-world engineering projects.

Through building, observing, and troubleshooting the GBC, participants:

  • Explore mechanical and electrical engineering concepts, including energy conversion, gear ratios, and motion control.
  • Learn the engineering design process—plan, build, test, and iterate.
  • Experience the power of collaboration, as every module’s success depends on teamwork and communication.
  • Gain confidence in STEM creativity, seeing firsthand that engineering can blend art, movement, and innovation.

RenLUG’s GBC installations are featured at major community STEM events, such as Spark STEM FEST, School STEM Nights and the Orlando Science Center’s STEM Showcase, where hundreds of young visitors, many first-time builders, are invited to help troubleshoot or design their own modules. The activity particularly encourages girls to explore engineering roles in a playful, supportive setting, guided by adult mentors and experienced builders who model inclusive participation in technical fields.

By turning motion into a mesmerizing chain reaction, the Great Ball Contraption captures the spirit of engineering: curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. It empowers girls to see themselves not only as participants in STEM, but as the next generation of innovators, engineers, and makers.