Skip to navigation | Skip to content

Share your knowledge. Make a difference.

Canstruction

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 4 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #205 in Volunteering, #28738 overall

Donates to Action Against Hunger

Rated G. (Control what you see)

Canstruction - Beating Hunger One Can at a Time!

 

Across the country, perfectly normal people get caught up in the frenzy of competition and the spirit of design with - cans? Move over other food art. These "canstruction" projects deliver not just amazing creations, but also non-perishable food for local food banks.

I just recently discovered this competition when we were looking for some new ideas for fun things to do at work. I love design, architecture, engineering and think it would be totally fun to try this. Best of luck to you with your own design and competition!

All About Canstruction 

What's behind the madness?

From the Canstruction website:

Canstruction is a design/build competition showcasing the talents of design and construction industry professionals and students they mentor. At events held around the world, teams are given just 12 hours to defy expectations, logic, and gravity as they build fantastic sculptures from thousands of cans of food.

Dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to bring their creations to life. The following day, the super-sized masterpieces are judged in a variety of categories as these unconventional art exhibits are opened to the public, the cost of admission - just one can of food.

A foundation of the Society for Design Administration (SDA), Canstruction is a design/build competition currently held in cities throughout North America. Teams of architects, engineers, and students mentored by these professionals, compete to design and build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food.

The results are displayed to the public as magnificent sculpture exhibits in each city where a competition is held. At the close of the exhibitions all of the canned food used in the structures is donated to local food banks for distribution to emergency feeding programs that include pantries, soup kitchens, elderly and day care centers.

Since its inception, ten million pounds of food has been donated to aid in the fight against hunger. Initiated by the Denver, Seattle and New York Chapters of the SDA in 1992/93, Canstruction now has over one hundred individual competitions scheduled to take place during the 2007-2008 cycle.

Past Canstruction Projects 

Jaw-dropping sculptures made of cans and other food

20,000 leagues under the sea (in cans) by Mafue

20,000 leagues under...

Crocodile by Mafue

Crocodile

Paper bag princess (in cans) by Mafue

Paper bag princess (...

Canned Comfort by Mafue

Canned Comfort

Optimus Prime by Mafue

Optimus Prime

Tea by Mafue

Tea

Orca by Mafue

Orca

DSC02391 by Mafue

DSC02391

Can-ucks? by Mafue

Can-ucks?

Pacman (in cans) by Mafue

Pacman (in cans)

How to Get Involved in Canstruction 

Host a competition, enter a team or just go enjoy the show

There are several options for getting involved with Canstruction and helping out with the fight against hunger.

Host a Competition
Since Canstruction is a project of the design industry, part of its mission is to get architects, engineers, designers and contractors involved in giving back to the community. So the first requirement for any competition is that these design professionals play a key role. Check out the link for more details on the requirements for hosting a competition.

Get involved with a local competition already in place
The link takes you to the list of participating cities. Click on your city if it's already on the list, and you'll get the contact information for the organizer as well as location and so forth.

Enter a Team
Your team must be led by a design industry professional. (Someone needs to understand how to make those cans stand up straight!) Teams can have as many people as want, but only five people at a time can be building. Click the link for more info and tips on running a team.

Best Canstruction Ever? 

Choose your favorite Canstruction entry

can-structed_rocket
can-structed_rocket

#1

0 points
CANstruction - 2004
CANstruction - 2004

#2

0 points
can-construction-canstruction-15
can-construction-canstruction-15

#3

0 points
CANstruction 2001
CANstruction 2001

#4

0 points
Canstruction
Canstruction

#5

0 points
Canstruction: We CAN help, one CAN at a time.
Canstruction: We CAN help, one CAN at a time.

#6

0 points
Canstruction: The Big Apple Says:
Canstruction: The Big Apple Says: "Slice Hunger To The Core"

#7

0 points
canstruction cansino 1
canstruction cansino 1

#8

0 points
Canstruction: Canned Piano
Canstruction: Canned Piano

#9

0 points

Design, Build, Plan 

Get inspiration for your build!

Skyscrapers!: Super Structures to Design & Build (Kaleidoscope Kids)

Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 07/25/2008)

Bridges: Amazing Structures to Design, Build & Test (Kaleidoscope Kids)

Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 07/25/2008)

Design-Build (Architecture in Practice)

Amazon Price: $65.00 (as of 07/25/2008)

DESIGNnewyork 2004

Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)

Competing in Canstruction 

From those who've taken up the challenge

Canned Wonders
We find out how the awesome hotdog was built - including great detail that it took more than 6,300 cans!!
Industrial Brand Creative
The crew at this design firm shares about their winning 2007 entry in Vancouver, along with some tips for choosing a winning design. Check out their past entries in other articles.
CANstruction Demolishes Hunger
Engineering and design students at Colorado State University get in on the fun.
BC Lions
35 students from IB Chemistry and Design Technology Drafting classes took their second award for this entry.
The Van of PEAS(Peace)
Lacy headed up her team's entry, which was a Volkswagen bus composed of over 5,500 cans of sweet peas, evaporated milk, fish, and ranch style beans, 3,000 packages of ramen noodles, 500 bottles of water, and 600 cups of applesauce.
Society of Hispanic Engineers
Watch the Mayan pyramid come to life in this photo essay of this entry.

Watch Canstruction Happen! 

YouTube thumbnail
Canstruction Calgary 2008

Runtime: 1:56 | 215 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
Canstruction: M. Candra Drzewi...

Runtime: 4:14 | 912 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
Canstruction 2006 - Mobius Str...

Runtime: 3:03 | 4394 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
CANSTRUCTION VANCOUVER ART WIT...

Runtime: 9:49 | 433 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
CANstruction - Cyclorama - 200...

Runtime: 2:57 | 1164 views | Comments

YouTube thumbnail
Canstruction 08

Runtime: 2:56 | 1090 views | Comments

Cantastic Chatter 

Speak your mind about Canstruction here!

Have you ever participated in a Canstruction competition? Have a great idea for a can sculpture? Just want to give me props for being "cantastic"?

stargazer00

Saw this on TV a while back. Very impressive! Nice lens.

Posted May 09, 2008

kab

I first bumped into Construction while researching for my soda can lens. I think that those structures are absolutely amazing. What a great and creative way to have a food drive!

Posted April 05, 2008

thomasz

Wow really great lens. Come visit my lenses.

Posted February 13, 2008

Psst .. if you buy something from this lens 

... you'll automatically be making a donation to Modest Needs, working to stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for low-income workers struggling to afford emergency expenses.

Doesn't that feel good?
X
SusanVillasLewis

About SusanVillasLewis


Basic gal from the Dallas area who has a lot to say!! I'm working on lens related to my odd-ball interests, as well as some tying back to my husband's website forum, TrackAddict. I'm just starting out but see this Squidoo thing as a place to combine my love of research and writing. Stay tuned for lots of lens from me!

SusanVillasLewis's Pages

See all of SusanVillasLewis's pages

X

Gold Star

This is a certified gold star lens, which means it's the best of its kind on Squidoo (or shows some serious potential for getting there!)

Read more about gold stars »

X

SusanVillasLewis is a Giant Squid!

Giants are distinguished by their exceptional skill for making top-notch lenses, and lots of them. Whenever you land on a Giant Squid's lens, you know the person behind it is passionate about the topic and is hard at work making the lens worthy of your time and attention.

Learn more about what it takes to be a Giant »