by Jason Keil | photography by Jill McNamara
Alec Posta has the dream job of every kid (and kid at heart): LEGO builder. Eight years ago, the now-32-year-old Phoenix native competed against more than 100 applicants to secure the prestigious job of master model builder at LEGOLAND Discovery Center at Arizona Mills in Tempe. He was promoted to global master model builder in 2022 and now helps run 30 Discovery Centers around the world. But lately, Posta has gone above and beyond his job description to become a social media sensation. In videos posted last year under his @masterbuilderalec handle, he pulled a prank that would make The Office’s Jim Halpert proud. While their co-worker Jerry was on vacation, Posta and his team replaced everything on his desk, from the keyboard to the garbage can, with a LEGO replica they assembled, and filmed Jerry’s stunned reaction upon his return. The video went viral and even made ABC’s Good Morning America. “It’s all going to [Jerry’s] head now,” he says. Posta took a break from creating content to chat with us about living the LEGO lifestyle.
What inspired you to prank your co-worker?
Another co-worker mentioned it a year ago, but it was a big project. I replaced his webcam a while ago, and he didn’t notice. I thought that was funny, so I took that to the 10th degree. I built his keyboard, mouse and paper tray. The entire project was exhausting. I made so many models. It was so much fun for everyone – and me – working here. The core of being a master builder is showing what is going to create the most amount of fun.
Have you adjusted to viral stardom?
I never really used social media before I started doing it for work. Then, it became a big part of my job, and at first, I felt very uncomfortable just filming myself and talking to a camera. I hadn’t even taken selfies, and now I make four or five videos a week, and I have a million-plus followers. I really enjoy it now because I can reach a lot of people. I hear a lot of kind words online about how people are inspired to pick LEGO back up after not playing with it for years.
What do visitors like the most in your workshop?
Kids really like the models that have some surprise element. That is why I try to make the models as interactive as possible. I make big LEGO bricks that do different things, like one that can say “yes” or “no.” I just built one that unfolds and shows LEGOLAND. Being able to show a kid that I can design something and they can add to it, I get the biggest reaction out of that. I like seeing kids’ faces light up when a brick opens to reveal a monster or the LEGO refrigerator dispenses ice.
What do you hope adults get out of your content?
We associate creativity and imagination with kids, right? But that shouldn’t stop. That’s my philosophy, and being creative in one area, even just painting or drawing, will make you creative in other areas. It will get those creative muscles working, and you can really expand that even into your home life, anywhere. Getting adults to pick LEGO back up and engage with it – it is amazing that I can have that kind of impact.
You have a young daughter. Are you excited to introduce her to LEGO?
I’m not going to force it upon her. I do a lot of my LEGO building at work, so I try to pursue my other creative hobbies at home. There’s less LEGO at our house than you’d expect, but we’re definitely going to be getting some DUPLO bricks for her soon.
