Canstruction®

Canstruction® combines the competitive spirit of a design/build competition with a unique way to help feed the hungry. Competing teams, lead by architects and engineers, showcase their talents by designing giant sculptures made entirely out of canned food. Structures are created by stacking a variety of can sizes and shapes using the product labels as the color palette. Structurally self-supporting, the only other materials to be used are 1/4” leveling, cardboard, tape, rubber bands and wire.   Canstruction® is trademarked by the Society for Design Administration, and working in tandem with the American Institute of Architects and other members of the design and contruction industry, Canstruction® is making a significant contribution to the fight against hunger.   Who: Anyone related to the Design Profession in Iowa such as architects, engineers and designers, and other organizations such as schools and nonprofit groups are eligible to participate in the Central Iowa Canstruction® Competition, provided that one team member belongs to the American Institute of Architects, Iowa Chapter (AIA Iowa). Note: The school groups and other organizations registered to compete will be assigned an AIA Iowa team member as a “mentor” to qualify them. What: Design & build structures made entirely from canned foods within a 10'L x 10'W x 8'H space. Why: To benefit the Food Bank of Iowa in Central Iowa or the HACAP Food Reservoir in Eastern Iowa.

Canstruction 2010

Central Iowa  View the Slide Show - On Saturday March 27, 2010 the Central Iowa Canstruction® competition was held at the Science Center of Iowa. Preliminary results were reported, and  ten structures totaling more than 19,195 pounds of food will be donated to the Food Bank of Iowa. Award Winners: Best Meal: KJWW Engineers, "Chomp Down on Hunger" Best Use of Labels: Gilmor & Doyle, "Terminate Hunger" Structural Ingenuity: FRK Architects, "Your Move (to end Hunger)" Juror's Favorite: SVPA Architects, "You Say Tomato, We Say Ta-Mater" Honorable Mention: AIA Iowa Allied Group, "UP House" Honorable Mention: DLR Group, "Shining A Light on Hunger" Young Designers: The Academy, "Pyramid" A HUGE Thanks to Central Iowa Canstruction® Sponsors! Gold Sponsors Science Center of Iowa Action Reprographics Alliant Energy Freeman Young's Embroidery   Silver Sponsors Charles Saul Engineering Prairie Pella, Inc. Bronze Sponsors Allender Butzke Engineers Inc. Architectural Arts LLC Automatic Door Gorp, Inc. DLR Group Glen-Gery Brick Center RBC Tile of Iowa Rollin Relics SGH, Inc. Strauss Architectural Systems  United Brick & Tile   Corridor Canstruction The 2010 Eastern Corridor Canstruction will be held on Saturday, April 10th at Lindale Mall in Cedar Rapids. Visit www.corridorcanstruction.org for details.

Canstruction 2009

Central Iowa Canstruction View the Slide Show On Saturday March 28, 2009 the Central Iowa Canstruction® competition was held at the Science Center of Iowa. Preliminary results were reported, and  thirteen structures totaling more than 19,899 pounds of food will be donated to the Food Bank of Iowa. Award Winners: Best Meal: Iowa State University AIAS, The CANpanile Best Use of Labels: DLR Group, Whale'n on Hunger Structural Ingenuity: Design Alliance, We can stop the clock on world hunger Juror's Favorite: AIA Iowa Allied Members, Iowa's Can Field Honorable Mention: FRK, Don't Siesta, hunger is no fiesta Honorable Mention: KJWW Engineering, Hunger is no game Young Designers: Ames 5th Graders, Souper Rocket A HUGE Thanks to Central Iowa Canstruction® Sponsors! Gold Science Center of Iowa Action Reprographics Alliant Energy Silver Charles Saul Engineering Freeman Young's Embroidery and Screenprint Bronze Allender Butzke Engineers, Inc. Architectural Arts DLR Group Farris Engineering Glen Gery Brick Center Little.Dog.Tech Computer Repair Mannington Commercial Prairie Pella RBC Tile & Stone Rhino Materials Rollin Relics Car Club Simonson & Associates Architects Strauss Architectural Systems Swanson Gentleman Hart, Inc. United Brick & Tile Venter Spooner Corridor Canstruction On Saturday April 18, 2009 the Eastern Corridor Canstruction® competition was held at the Sycamore Mall in Iowa City. Preliminary results were reported, and  eleven structures totaling more than 17,000 pounds of food will be donated to the HAACP Food Reservior. Award Winners-A/E Firms: Juror's Favorite: Rohrbach Associates, Leaning Tower of Pizza Best Meal: Shive-Hattery, TiCANic Structural Integrity: OPN Architects, The Grand CANyoun: Dare to Bridge the Hunger Divide Best Use of Labels: Rohrbach Associates, Leaning Tower of Pizza Honorable Mention: Neumann Monson, CAN-U Professional People's Choice Award: Shive Hattery, TiCANic Award Winners-Student/Community Groups: Best in Show: Prairie ELP Students, We CAN Help...CANoe? Best Meal: Cedar Rapids Community Schools PACT, Great Wall of Hunger Most Imaginative: Iowa City Schools North Central Junior High, Space Shuttle CANlantis Best Use of Labels: Center Point-Urbana Middle School, Feeding the World One Plate at a Time Honrable Mention: Johnson County Girl Scouts, Girl Scout Tin Mints People's Choice Award: Prairie ELP Students, We CAN Help...CANoe? For additional Corridor Canstruction® information visit their official webpage at www.corridorcanstruction.org.

Highlights from 2008

Central Iowa On Saturday April 5th, 2008 the Central Iowa Canstruction® competition was held at the Science Center of Iowa. Preliminary results were reported, and  fourteen structures totaling more than 26,220 pounds of food will be donated to the Food Bank of Iowa, along with $2,100 in donated funds. View the Slide Show  Corridor On Satruday, April 5th the Corridor Canstruction® competition was held at Lindale Mall. Preliminary results were reported, and twelve structures totaling more than 17,000 pounds of food will be donated to HACAP. View the Press Release here.

Highlights from 2007

Central Iowa On Saturday, March 3, 2007 hundreds of Iowans joined together to build 'canstructions' in an effort to help end hunger in Iowa. The Central Iowa Canstruction® build benefited the Food Bank of Iowa in Des Moines. The preliminary results were reported, Central Iowa Canstruction® had twelve canstructions weighing more than 21,000 pounds. Central Iowa Canstruction® photos can be viewed by clicking this link, Central Iowa Photos. Corridor On Saturday, March 3, 2007 hundreds of Iowans joined together to build 'canstructions' in an effort to help end hunger in Iowa. The Corridor Canstruction® build benefited the HACAP Food Reservoir, serving the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City corridor. The Corridor Canstruction® had eight canstructions weighing more than 14,390 pounds. Corridor Canstruction® photos can be viewed by clicking this link, Corridor Photos.