Architecture Week Challenge: Build a LEGO Elevator!
Can you design and build a working elevator using LEGO Robotics?
This week at Sprattronics Learning Lab, your mission is to take your minifigures from low to high—just like real engineers do in skyscrapers around the world!
Watch the Challenge Video First
Before you start building, watch this video to see the challenge in action and get some ideas:
How Do Elevators Work?
Elevators may look simple, but they are powerful machines designed with engineering and safety in mind. Most modern elevators use a system called a traction system.
Here are the key parts:
1. Cables (String)
Real elevators use steel cables to lift and lower the car.
For your build, you can use string to do the same job!
2. The Car (Lift)
This is the part where people (or your LEGO minifigures) ride.
Your challenge is to design a car that:
- Holds your cargo securely
- Moves smoothly up and down
3. The Sheave (Drum)
The sheave is a rotating wheel or drum that the cable wraps around.
When it spins, it pulls the cable and moves the elevator.
In your build:
- This could be a LEGO wheel or a custom drum
- It will likely connect to a motor
4. The Motor & Controls
To make your elevator move, you’ll need:
- A motor to turn the sheave
- A way to control movement (buttons or sensors)
You can use:
- LEGO SPIKE Essential
- LEGO SPIKE Prime
- LEGO Education Science or Computer Science kits
Your Challenge
Design and build a LEGO elevator that:
✅ Lifts an object or minifigure up
✅ Lowers it back down
✅ Uses a string and rotating drum system
✅ Stays stable while moving
Bonus Challenges (Try One!)
- Can your elevator stop at multiple floors?
- Can you use a sensor to control when it stops?
- Can your elevator lift something heavy?
- Can you make it faster or smoother?
Engineering Tips
- Keep your structure strong and stable
- Make sure your string doesn’t tangle
- Test often and improve your design
- If it doesn’t work the first time—that’s part of engineering!
Show What You Built!
We’d love to see your designs!
Share your elevator and explain:
- What worked well?
- What did you improve?
- What would you do differently next time?
What You’re Learning
By completing this challenge, you are practicing:
- Engineering Design
- Problem Solving
- Mechanical Systems
- Real-World Architecture Concepts
Now it’s your turn…
Can you build an elevator that really works?
