Hosted by the NHL’s New Jersey Devils as part of their ‘Jersey Hockey Fights Hunger’ initiative, the New Jersey exhibition is part of a national AIA-sponsored CANstruction event in which teams of architects, engineers and students mentored by these professionals compete to design and build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food.
Created by using thousands of cans, the themes of this year’s competition should be inspired by hockey, the New Jersey Devils, the Prudential Arena Building or the city of Newark. The structures take eight to 12 weeks, which would be built during an eight-hour ‘Build Day’ on November 13, 2009, and will be on display throughout the Prudential Center concourse. Giving the architects the opportunity to display their talents while also serving as a benefit for the hungry, the immense 10x10x8 feet high structures will be dismantled and all of the canned food donated to charity after the exhibition.
The design competition is held under the auspices of the Society for Design Administration (SDA), an affiliate of the national AIA organization. In its 11th year, the design competition will be held for the first time this year at the Prudential Center. In recent years, the competition was held at the Harborside Financial Center in Jersey City.
In New Jersey, the food is donated to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) for distribution to community food programs. CANstruction is the CFBNJ’s largest and most successful event, said Tim Vogel, director of food sourcing for the food bank.
Kevin McCormick, chairman of the CANstruction committee, was reported stating that this competition allows architects to indulge in two of the activities they enjoy most – designing new structures and giving back to the community.
With an entry fee of $100, the last date of submission of form is September 1, 2009.
