True North Bricks turns ten in March 2026. To celebrate, I am posting a few retrospective articles commemorating a decade of LEGO® blogging. Today, we go back the Firehouse and re-review the first big set I ever blogged about on True North Bricks—with some history and nostalgia along the way.

INTRODUCTION

It has been almost a decade since the LEGO® Group released the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters. Back in 2016, I was only two years out of my dark ages and just beginning to build a modular city. True North Bricks was still in its infancy — I had only reviewed a handful of small sets — and my “LEGO® room” was actually my in-laws’ basement a few blocks from my tiny apartment. My budget for bricks was small, but for my birthday that year I got the Ghostbusters Firehouse. It became the first big set I reviewed for the blog, and it has stayed built and on display ever since.

Fast forward to 2025: I brought that same Firehouse to Brickomanie, where it was part of a display of the 25 largest LEGO® sets ever produced. The organizers even gave me a Briksmax lighting kit so it could glow during their after-dark event. Installing the lights was unexpectedly nostalgic, taking me right back to 2016 and reminding me why this set has remained one of my all-time favorites for nearly a decade.

SET SPECIFICS

QUICK REVIEW

FULL REVIEW

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Value Score Breakdown:

Back in 2016, I had virtually no data to support my review metrics. Still, I knew I needed a way to compare sets of different sizes objectively, regardless of price or piece count. At the time, I leaned on averages from LEGO® catalogues. Ten years and nearly 400 reviews later, I’ve built a much deeper archive of my own data. So, let’s revisit the Ghostbusters Firehouse with that in mind.

Of course, this set comes from a different era. You’d be hard-pressed today to find a 4,600-piece build for $400 CAD. Comparable sets like Gringotts Wizarding Bank or the Disney Castle now push well past $500. But in 2016, the Firehouse’s 4,634 pieces came in at $399.99 CAD—just $0.086 per brick. Even then, I noted how strong that was compared to the $0.11/brick catalogue average. Today, with the going rate topping $0.14/brick, that value feels almost unbelievable. By any measure, the Firehouse still deserves a perfect score here.

As for build time, my original playthrough is hard to measure. In those early days, I was experimenting with stop-motion photography—literally taking a picture after placing each brick. It was fun but wildly time-consuming: over 24 hours to complete. Based on experience, I’d now peg it closer to an eight-hour build. While I can’t assign a precise score without data, even at eight hours this set would still achieve a perfect result. So, once again, the Firehouse earns 100% for value.

FUN FACT: Don’t expect to find this set for $400 CAD anymore. As of writing, Bricklink averages around $800 for used copies—often incomplete. For a full set with all bricks, minifigures, and instructions, prices start at $800. In other words: if you’ve held onto your Firehouse, you’ve more than doubled your investment in a decade.

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Build Score Breakdown:

I have almost nothing but praise for the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters build—even a decade later. The attention to detail remains striking: every corner has something interesting to discover, and the set never tries to do too much. Could it have included the ECTO-1? Sure, but that was released as a separate set—and rightly so. There are no side builds that detract from the main structure, keeping the focus on the detailed, impressive building itself.

Structurally, the Firehouse is rock-solid. Technic supports reinforce each floor, and the design balances modular display with playability. It fits seamlessly into any modular city layout, yet the hinged right wall swings open to give complete access to the interior, perfect for play or positioning minifigures.

Looking back, I learned a lot from this build in 2016, but none of the techniques feel dated. Even today, I would be inspired building it for the first time. The Firehouse remains one of LEGO®’s most impressive sets.That said, it is not without flaw. The back wall lacks the detail and double-layer construction seen elsewhere in the set, and it stands out in contrast to the otherwise polished design. It was my main gripe in 2016, and it still is today. That small blemish aside, I award the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters the same build score as a decade ago: 99%.

FUN FACT: At 4,634 bricks, the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters was the third-largest LEGO® set ever released in 2016. Since then, the LEGO® Group has steadily raised the bar, and in 2026, the Firehouse ranks as the 25th largest set of all time.

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Minifigure Score Breakdown:

Interestingly, all of the Minifigures in the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters are unique. LEGO® had already released the original Ghostbusters team in the Ideas ECTO-1, but those versions differed slightly from the ones here. Each Firehouse character features front-and-back torso printing as well as double-sided heads, and Louis Tully even includes an alternate head. None of the figures have leg printing, which I would normally count against them, but in this case it feels forgivable. The characters remain true to the source material, and the abundance of accessories more than makes up for the missing detail. For design, I rate the Minifigures at 100%.

The Firehouse includes nine Minifigures and three ghosts. Two of the ghosts are static, but Slimer has poseable arms. When I first reviewed the set in 2016, I didn’t count Slimer as a Minifigure. Today, my review criteria have evolved, and he definitely qualifies. The other two ghosts, however, still feel more like accessories. With that in mind, the Firehouse includes 10 poseable figures in total, giving a ratio of 463 bricks per fig. Compared to other Icons (18+) sets, this is about average, though still on the low side compared to LEGO® sets overall. That earns the Firehouse 78% for minifigure count.

Considering both design and minifig count, I rate the Firehouse figures at 90%. That’s a significant improvement over my 2016 review, where I scored them at 60%. The difference reflects not just my updated scoring system but also the benefit of experience and more data.

FUN FACT: It’s not just the Firehouse itself that has appreciated in value. In 2025, the average price of a Minifigure from this set is $44.27 CAD. Peter Venkman is the most valuable, averaging $68.36 CAD. To buy the entire character lineup today, you’d spend roughly $450 CAD at Bricklink’s going rates. That’s over half the value of the set itself!

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Entertainment Score Breakdown:

When I first reviewed the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters, I gave it what I then called an “enjoyment” score of 100%. Nearly a decade later, my opinion hasn’t changed. Even though I no longer build a modern city where this set fits, it has stayed built and on display ever since. You just don’t see this level of detail in most LEGO® sets—even the modular collection pales in comparison. Perhaps only the original Ninjago City (70620, released in 2017) comes close. They just don’t make them like this anymore.

I still remember the absolute awe I felt after finishing the build in 2016. I had built a few modulars by then, but the Firehouse set a new standard. Only a handful of sets in the last decade have given me that same feeling. Revisiting it today, the sense of wonder is still there. To me, it remains about as close to a perfect LEGO® set as the company has ever produced—and I’m not even a huge Ghostbusters fan.

FUN FACT: The LEGO® Group has produced 19 zombie Minifigures between 2010 and 2025. One of them is exclusive to the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters. Find out more by clicking here.

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With unrivaled detail, sturdy design, and incredible presence, it remains a dream set for collectors and a benchmark for what LEGO® can achieve. If you already own it, consider yourself lucky. If not, the Firehouse is proof that sometimes a single set can define an era—and remind us why we fell in love with the brick in the first place.

Looking back almost a decade later, the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters remains one of the crown jewels of my LEGO® journey. It wasn’t just the first “big” set I reviewed—it was the one that made me realize how special this hobby could be. From the day I lugged it home in 2016, to the countless times I’ve admired it since, the Firehouse has never lost its magic. It feels less like a product and more like a landmark: a rare blend of detail, presence, and playability that few sets before or since have managed to capture. Sure, LEGO® has released bigger builds in the years that followed, but this one still holds its ground as an icon.

Whether you’re a Ghostbusters fan or just a fan of great LEGO® design, the Firehouse Headquarters is a reminder of how truly special the right set can be—and why some builds never fade from memory. What do you think of the Ghostbusters Firehouse Headquarters? Or do you have a different set that stands out as truly iconic? Let me know in the comments or reach out on social media.

Until next time,

-Tom

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