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Lego Manchester: Hunt begins for iconic city landmark to be immortalised in plastic alongside Old Trafford

By Tim Hyde

A plastic Beetham Tower? Or the Urbis made of mini red bricks? 

Manchester Lego enthusiasts have the chance to cast their vote and immortalise another iconic landmark in plastic bricks at Legoland Discovery Centre’s Miniland version of the city.

Since the Manchester wheel took its final turn in Exchange Square earlier this year Lego Miniland have opened up a vote to see what famous building should replace it.

Manchester plays host to a long list of famous buildings old and new which are famous for dominating the city’s skyline and preserving years of heritage.

Alex Bidolak, master model builder at Legoland Discovery Centre, said: “Manchester is evolving in front of our eyes with a huge number of new buildings and districts popping up all over the city.

“NOMA [Co-operative Headquarters] and the landscaping surrounding it will make a massive impact on the space on that side of town.

“Furthermore no-one can deny the impact of Ian Simpson’s Beetham Tower on the skyline, it can be seen for miles on a clear day.”

Also making an appearance on the shortlist are the Imperial War Museum and The Jodrell Bank Observatory.

The list finishes with two more of Manchester’s renowned buildings including the Chill Factore and Spinningfields which both become landmarks in their own right.

Jade Greenwich, 26, a store manager from Eccles said: “All the buildings on the shortlist should be built for different reasons.

“I will vote for the new Co-operative headquarters [NOMA] as it’s a beautiful building.”

Once the winning building has been declared, construction will begin ready for the big reveal in 2014.

Legoland Discovery Centre is also giving 10 lucky voters the opportunity to be some of the first to see the model when completed in its Manchester Miniland home.

Lego enthusiast Mary Robinson, 21, a student from Central Manchester said: “I think the Hilton [Beetham Tower] is one of the most iconic Manchester landmarks, it would look amazing in Lego.”

“I think things like this just show how much Manchester has grown, the fact we have such a long list of great buildings in our city.”

The display already contains iconic buildings such as the Trafford Centre, Manchester’s Town Hall, The Midland Hotel and the city’s two state-of-the-art football grounds.

Votes can be cast via the Discovery Centre’s Facebook page here before voting ends on November 15.

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