Canstruction Competition to benefit Food for Survival

Real Estate Weekly, Oct 10, 2001

Organized by the American Institute of Architects and the Society of Design Administration, and hosted by the New York Design Center, the Canstruction Competition marks the ninths year the event benefits Food For Survival and The New York City Food Bank. The Food Bank services more than 1,200 emergency feeding programs in the New York metropolitan area, distributing more than 50 million pounds of food a year, and still there is not enough food to meet the ever increasing demand.

Designers began thinking about ideas for this year's competition even before the winners of last year's competition were announced.

A tremendous amount of planning goes into each structure. First, teams brainstorm a new concept -- something no one has ever built before. Design development sketches are followed by three-dimensional computer studies. After that it's off to the grocery store in search of labels and a menu. Then back to the office with a brown bag of possibilities for a mini-model. If all goes well, during the structural engineering phase a count for each label is calculated and a giant food order is placed. But the teams are not out of the woods yet. Stacking cans is not just an art, it's a science. If a can is placed even a fraction on an inch in the wrong direction the entire sculpture can come tumbling down and the team must begin all over again!

Canstruction serves to place a spotlight on hunger, the services rendered by Food For Survival, and what the design and construction industry is doing to give back to the communities it builds. Its aim is to raise the public's awareness of hunger, the economic issues that surround it, and what everyone can do to help.

Fifty cities across the nation will join New York in hosting competitions this year. The national goal is to raise 1.5 million pounds of food. Each year structures become bigger, more complex and sophisticated in design. Entries are judged in four main categories: Best Meal, Best use of, Labels, Structural Ingenuity, and Jurors' Favorite.

Architects and Engineers will meet on Wednesday evening, Nov. 7 at the New York Design Center. 36 entries are anticipated to raise 100,000 pounds of food. Jurors tour the exhibition Thursday after-noon, and the winners are declared that evening at a Gala Awards Ceremony. The exhibit is open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The public is asked to participate by bringing a can of food as the price of admission.