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Colorful plastic bricks taught software architect Mark Warren the fundamentals of construction when he was a child, giving him an early start on building a skill set that became his career.

“There’s a precision about Legos and how all the pieces fit together,” said Warren (left), who prolongs his childhood hobby by participating in the Bay Area Lego Users Group (BayLUG). “It’s like writing in a different language — creativity with a constraint.”

BayLUG, which boasts over 100 members, meets monthly to celebrate its lifelong love for Lego. At their meetings, members share and collaborate on their projects, some of which take anywhere from a few days to an entire year to assemble.

BayLUG will display an entire city constructed of Legos at this weekend’s Maker Faire in San Mateo. The exhibit, with individual members responsible for building a single city block, will measure about 2,000 square feet — a ton of Legos. BayLUG’s Lego city will be one of more than 500 exhibits of do-it-yourself technology, hacks, mods and just plain strange hobby projects at the fair, which drew more than 65,000 attendees last year.

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Nearly 80 years old, Lego construction toys were invented by carpenter Ole Kirk Christiansen, who coined the name by combining the Danish words “Leg” and “Godt,” meaning “play well.” (In Latin, the words coincidentally translate as “I put together.”) He started the Lego Group in 1932, which became Lego in 1934. The small toy company’s first Lego blocks were constructed of wood, which evolved into plastic, interlocking bricks in 1940. Today, Lego is the world’s fifth-largest toy manufacturer, according to the company.

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Given the construction-oriented essence of Lego toys, it’s only natural that the majority of BayLUG members hold positions in the tech industry, ranging from software development to electrical engineering. Bruce Chamberlain (left) was formerly an engineer at Apple, and he’s applying his skills to a 500-square-foot Lego train layout, which will circle the group’s plastic city.

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Within the city will be an entire amusement park, featuring a parade, a Ferris wheel, carnival games and even a haunted house (below). Stephanie Schuller, who works in Yahoo’s cloud computing division, is building this section. She, too, has been building with Legos her entire life.

“Something I love about building with Legos as an adult is you can build much more complicated things [than when you were a kid],” Schuller said. “Plus, with Legos as an adult, you can afford more.”

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At the Lego carnival, you’ll even see a variety of “costumed” individuals. Since when were Chewie and Darth Vadar cool enough to grab lunch?

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Another part of the group’s Lego city will include a campground, where software engineer and BayLUG president Bill Ward (above) will be showing off his Lego RV (below) among other vehicles. What’s special about his RV? It’s actually a deluxe motor home with a fully detailed interior featuring two bathrooms and a kitchen. It’s even got a diesel motor and pump-out stations for the holding tank.

“I’ve always wanted to make a justification to buy one of these things, but for now I can dream,” Ward said.

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One of the biggest spectacles in the city will be automotive engineer Johannes Van Galen’s 15-story skyscraper. Looks fancy enough to belong in the Financial District, doesn’t it?

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Electrical engineer David Wegmuller’s gigantic Lego crane will certainly prove eye-catching. The model uses Lego motors to lift objects weighing up to 5 pounds.

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Enjoy opera? Paul Sinasohn, an Oracle instructional software designer, will be setting up a Lego stage depicting a dress rehearsal for HMS Pinafore, Gilbert and Sullivan’s famous comic opera. Sinasohn’s attention to detail borders on neurotic: He custom-painted the characters’ costumes and faces to make them one of a kind. The princess to the left is a fine example.

See Also:

Gallery: Lego Torture Scenes Protest Media Censorship

Gallery: Trekker Recreates Classic Star Trek With Legos

Gallery: Lego Tableaus Recreate Classic Photos