Professor builds 8-foot-long ’Shoe out of Legos

Paul Janssen occasionally visits the “Take a Walk in Our ’Shoe” exhibit in Thompson Library and marvels at the artifacts displayed in celebration of Ohio Stadium’s 100th year. He especially enjoys a common reaction to the 8-by-6-foot replica of the ’Shoe that he constructed out of nearly a million colorful Lego blocks.

“I see their jaws drop when they see it,” says Janssen, an Ohio State professor and researcher of physiology and cell biology. “It’s nice to see that something like this can make other people feel happy.”

Janssen’s model has produced more than joy at the exhibit, which runs until February 23. Patrons can purchase a Lego figure to be placed in the stadium for a donation of $25 or more, with half of the funds going to Wexner Medical Center’s cardiac research program and half to University Archives, which organized the exhibit.

A Lego enthusiast since his childhood in the Netherlands, Janssen began building the stadium in 2007 because he saw the Horseshoe’s angles and complexity as a challenge. His theory proved true, especially since he didn’t cut, glue or paint any of the individual LEGO pieces. He spent more than 1,000 hours over four years building the model.

His hobby has helped others. Another fundraiser from Janssen’s creation began in 2017 at Ohio State’s Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital and has raised $85,000 to benefit students and cardiovascular research.

“I just started building it for fun,” Janssen says. “I like that the model has become something bigger than myself, and that people can feel good from donating to research because of it. It tightens connections and relationships between alumni, the community in Central Ohio and Buckeye fans all over the country.”