Canstruction is a design-build competition showcasing the talents of local design and construction industry 
professionals and students they mentor.

Teams are given one day to defy expectations, logic and gravity as they build fantastic sculptures from thousands 
of filled cans of food.  Driven by the knowledge that their structures will change lives by lifting the spirits of those 
in need, by raising public awareness, and most importantly, by filling the shelves of a local food shelter,
Second Harvest Heartland.

The 4th Annual design/build competition was held October 24, 25th and 26th at the Mall of America, 60 E. Broadway, 
Bloomington, MN with 7 groups participating.  The teams consisted of Van Sickle Allen & Associates, LLC, 
Cuningham Group Architecture P.A., HDR Architecture Inc., Perkins + Will with Meyer, Borgman & Johnson, Inc., 
ATS&R, Ellerbe Becket, and a team of students with American Institute of Architecture - University of Minnesota. 

There were six categories:  Best Meal, Best Use of Labels, Structural Ingenuity, Juror's Favorite, Honorable Mention, 
and People's Choice.  But the real winners are the families and individuals who rely on Second Harvest to help them put 
food on the table.  

Together the teams used over 23,000 cans in their structures that were donated to Second Harvest.  Saturday the teams 
constructed their designs beginning at 9:00 am, Sunday the entries were juried by Eric Lagerquist, AIA, SmithGroup 
(AIA St. Paul President), Chuck Liddy, AIA Miller Dunwiddie Architecture (AIA Minneapolis President), Renee Cheng, 
AIA, University of Minnesota (AIA President), and Steve Weeks (AIA University of Minnesota.  Eric Lovestrand emceed 
the awards celebration.  Throughout the weekend thousands of visitors passed by the exhibits - over 500 of them voting 
on their favorite structure - generating greater awareness and additional donations.  Canstruction now has over one hundred 
and thirty individual competitions scheduled to take place during the 2009 - 2010 cycle. 

Home of the Gophers  by AIAS		Click any photo to enlarge
I once caught a fish....THIS BIG by ATS&R
I know ONE CAN Can Make a Difference  by Cuningham Group Architecture
Can-D-Land  by Ellerbe Becket
Limas and Taters and Pears.....Oh My!  by HDR
Your Change CAN Make a Difference by Perkins + Will with Meyer, Borgman & Johnson, Inc.
A Day at the Beach by VAA, LLC
2009 Awards Best Meal:  Perkin + Will with Meyer Borgman & Johnson, Inc.  Best Use of Labels: DHR Architecture, Inc. People's Choice:  ATS&R Juror's Favorite - ATS&R   Structural Ingenuity:  AIAS (American Institute of Architect Students) Honorable Mention:  Cuningham Group Architecture, P.A., Ellerbe Becket, and Van Sickle & Assoc. To see structures previously built around the country go to www.canstruction.org