LEGO Discovery Center to Open at Arizona Mills in 2016

LEGO Store at Chandler Mall

For decades, Lego bricks have endured as one of the world's most-loved toys. The brightly-colored interconnecting blocks do not require batteries and do much to foster the creativity of children and adults alike.

As a huge fan of LEGO, I was very excited when the company opened their first retail store at Chandler Fashion Center Mall in 2008, and again when they opened a second location at Arrowhead Mall in Glendale in 2010. Now, the company has announced plans to open a massive 60,000 square foot LEGO Discovery Center at Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe.

According to a press release, the LEGO-inspired play space will include a huge pool of bricks, building classes, a Lego ride, a 4-D cinema and a replica of the Phoenix skyline built entirely from Legos.

The project's developer is Merlin Entertainment, the same company that opened the Sea Life aquarium at the mall in 2013. The new facility will clock in at 60,000 square feet - about twice the size of the Virgin Megastore that closed at the mall back in 2009.

Construction of the new LEGO Discovery Center is estimated to be $12 million dollars. The opening date has not been set, but is expected to be sometime in 2016.