Committee approves $7,500 from Gold Dome Fund for LEGO models of the House and Senate ahead of Colorado Day

The Capital Building Advisory Committee approved spending $7,500 from the Gold Dome Fund to commission LEGO models of the Colorado House and Senate chambers for Colorado Day exhibits and public engagement.

Amanda Clapham of Legislative Council presented the Lehi/LEGO model proposal and said the group had applied for aligned-giving grants through the America250 commission but that construction must begin soon to be ready for Colorado Day. Chad Road and Seth Moser of the Denver LEGO Users Group (DENLUG) showed rendered options for the House chamber, Senate chamber and an optional building façade, and outlined per-piece prices: approximately $4,000 for a House model and $3,500 for a Senate model. They proposed interactive "build-and-take" activities and options to loan the finished models to History Colorado or store them in Mr. Brown's attic.

Committee members discussed timing and the grant process; several members warned that any committee appropriation should assume that a grant may not reimburse the committee and recommended treating the approved funds as spent unless reimbursed. Staff reported the Gold Dome Fund balance at roughly $30,000 and recommended approving the two chamber models so work could begin.

Representative Clifford moved to approve $4,000 for the House model and $3,500 for the Senate model from the Gold Dome Fund (total $7,500); the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote with no objections recorded. The committee asked staff and presenters to proceed with construction planning and to return if additional funds are required for optional elements or giveaways.