Canstruction

Approximately 85,000 of cans of food will feed the hungry from the 20 colossal structures of the 2nd annual Canstruction design/build competition. Chicago architects, engineers and construction companies showed off their designs and engineering geniuses to aid in the cause to fight hunger. All cans used in the structures benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Congratulations to all the teams who participated this year’s Canstruction! There were many exciting structures, but here are the ones the judges favored:

JURORS’ FAVORITE

"CANtastic Voyage"
Nagle Hartray Danker Kagan McKay Penney Architects, Ltd.

STRUCTURAL INGENUITY

"Hungry, Hungry Hippo"
Halvorson & Partners; HOK

BEST USE OF LABELS

"Tuna City"
4240 Architecture; Charter Sills & Associates

BEST MEAL
MOST CANS (nearly 7,000!)

"paCmAN"
Booth Hansen

HONORABLE MENTION

"A SOUPer Bowl of Nutrition"
RJN Group

HONORABLE MENTION

"Chicago Keeps Hunger in Check"
Eckenhoff Saunders Architects; KJWW Engineering Consultants; Executive Construction, Inc.

LOCAL CHICAGO AWARDS

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

"Stay-Stuft Marshmallow Man"
American Institute of Steel Construction

AIA/SEAOI AWARD "MAKE NO SMALL CANS"
"Tuna City"
4240 Architecture; Charter Sills & Associates

CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY AWARD "IN DEMAND"
"A SOUPer Bowl of Nutrition"
RJN Group

Photographs of the winners of the Chicago competition will be submitted for inclusion in the national competition at the AIA Convention in 2009.

JURORS:
Alpana Singh, host of WTTW's "Check, Please!"
Billy Dec, President / Partner of Rockit Ranch Productions
John Carroll, President of Modern Luxury, Inc., publishers of CS magazine (Chicago)
Chef Jimmy Bannos, Chef/Owner, Heaven on Seven restaurants
Craig Vespa, SE, Halvorson and Partners
Zoka Zola, AIA, Zoka Zola Architect

MORE PHOTOS OF AMAZING STRUCTURES:

“Canformation of the Chicago Flag”
pb2 Architecture and Engineering

"Hunger can be Monstrous"
Murphy/Jahn

"Everyone CAN-nibble a bite out of hunger"
Klein and Hoffman, Inc.

"One CANtankerous CANivore"
Bovis Lend Lease / Magnusson Klemencic Associates

Photo credit: Bill Gnech

Thank you to the Canstruction contributors: Midway Moving for transporting all the cans to the Merchandise Mart; Cushing and ABC Imaging for graphics and printing support; Bill Gnech of The Apple Group for photographing the event and the winning structures; Mortenson Construction; Merchandise Mart Properties for hosting the event.

For more information about canstruction, and to see some of the Chicago winners from 2007, please go to www.canstruction.org, or email canstruction@aiachicago.org

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