This commission has some serious history behind it. Preparing for their annual Huskies United Day of Giving, the Northern Illinois University (NIU) Foundation contacted Playwell Bricks to discuss a custom set that would invoke Huskies pride. The NIU campus is home to what has been called ‘the castle on the hill,’ the stunning Altgeld Hall, and it’s this castle that the NIU Foundation wanted to see recreated in bricks.

Altgeld Hall is one of five castle-like buildings that Illinois Governor Altgeld had built to visually unify what were called ‘normal schools’ in the 1890s. The Hall has a gorgeous Tudor Gothic style and was completed in 1899.

Back in those days, Altgeld Hall housed the entire university. Since then, NIU has grown significantly, but Altgeld Hall remains a landmark and source of Huskies pride. It’s little wonder why the NIU Foundation would want a custom Playwell Bricks set based on this beauty.

Once delivered, this set would be a part of the NIU Foundation Huskies United Day of Giving fundraiser, available as a reward for an assigned donation tier. How much would you donate for a unique set based on your alma mater? Not to mention a castle of your own!

It was Playwell Bricks designer Yvonna Strijbos who brought this custom set to life in microscale. One of the main limitations with brick designs at this scale is that some detail is lost. “It helps to keep in mind that in microscale, you don’t try to replicate every detail,” fellow designer Eric Dubois Yang explains, “the essential aspect is to recreate the overall feel of the building.”

“It is fun to look at brick pieces and find a totally different use for them,” says Yvonne. She’s developed a fascinating knack for looking at bricks, not for what they are originally intended for, but for what their shape could allow them to become, “like a cog that becomes the top of a tower, a tooth that becomes a doorway.”

Yvonne’s out-of-the-box techniques proved themselves when our contact at the NIU Foundation approved her design and the team shifted into production.

The NIU Foundation Huskies United Day of Giving was successful, securing over $2.7 million in funding for the university and students last April.

If you’re looking for a custom set that represents your group, product, or to celebrate a milestone, Playwell Bricks specializes in corporate production. Our designers work with your budget and branding to help you build your dreams. Contact us and book your discovery call today!