Eroffnung des Lego Discovery Centre

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan is expected to open in Spring 2016 at Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills.

(Courtesy image)

AUBURN HILLS, MI - Great Lakes Crossing Outlets will see a colorful new addition next spring.

The outlet mall Monday announced that LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan will open at the 4000 Baldwin Rd. location in Auburn Hills by spring 2016.

The yellow, blue and red-bricked family destination will offer "unique indoor attractions based on the popular Lego brick."

There will be a slew of educational, interactive activities offered at the discovery center, which is geared towards families with children between 3 and 10 years old.

According to a release, there will be a "range of exciting (Lego) play areas," including rides, a brick pool, classes from a Lego master builder, play areas and specialty party rooms.

The Michigan discovery center will also house a 4D cinema and MINILAND area featuring iconic Detroit-area landmarks.

Locals will have the chance to nominate the landmarks they want represented through a contest, which will be announced at a later date, according to a press release.

LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan will be the eighth to open in the U.S. It will be operated by Merlin Entertainments, plc.

"The LEGOLAND Discovery Centers have been a huge success across the globe, particularly as an opportunity for adults and children to spend fun, quality time together," Glenn Earlam, managing director, Merlin's Midway Attractions Operating Group, said in a statement. "Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is the ideal location for the attraction as the mall is already a favored destination for Michigan families and tourists from the region."

There are currently discovery centers in Chicago, Dallas, Texas, Atlanta, Boston, New York and Toronto, among other cities.

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets said in the same release that they were excited to have the discovery center join the collection of stores.

"The enduring appeal of the LEGO brick combined with our already popular (Sea Life) aquarium ensures that our center will continue to be the premier destination for families who enjoy great shopping combined with high-quality entertainment and dining," Steve Berlow, general manager of the center, said in the statement.

Great Lakes Crossing Outlets is Michigan's largest indoor outlets center. Currently, there are 185 shops, restaurants and other attractions at the outlet center.

The Sea Life aquarium opened in January at the outlet mall.

Ian Thibodeau is the entertainment and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. He can be reached at ithibode@mlive.com, or follow him on Twitter.