Press

The fourth annual Capital Region Canstruction, a design competition benefiting The Food Pantries for the Capital District, will be held at the New York State Museum April 9 through April 24, 2014. Canstruction participants design and build giant-sized unique structures made entirely out of canned goods. This year’s participants have been challenged to collect 50,000 cans and $50,000 to support local food pantries.

Nine teams comprised of local architecture, engineering and construction firms, as well as design students, will transform tens of thousands of cans of food into larger than life pop art masterpieces inspired by this year’s theme, "Storytown", at the 4th floor of the State Museum. Participants include CSArch, Creighton Manning, EYP, MJ Engineering, Mosaic, Price Chopper, RPI, SMRT, and Spring Line Design.

Sculpture designs include James and the Giant Peach, Toy Story, Green Eggs and Ham, Winnie the Pooh, The Little Engine That Could, Horton Hears a Who, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Alice in Wonderland, The Rainbow Fish, The Wizard of Oz and Humpty Dumpty. All cans used in the displays were purchased from Price Chopper, the major event sponsor, and will be donated to The Food Pantries for the Capital District at the end of Canstruction.

Visitors are encouraged to bring canned goods to the State Museum and participate in the Canstruction competition. Visitors can use their canned goods as ballots to help determine the winner of the Community Choice award. Other awards, including "Best Use of Labels" and "Structural Ingenuity", will be chosen by a panel of local judges.

"We are pleased to once again host Canstruction at the State Museum," said Mark Schaming, State Museum Director. "Canstruction showcases the talent and creativity of the designers, but most importantly, it provides support for vital community services. We invite the Capital Region to visit the State Museum during Canstruction, experience these amazing creations and help our local community."

"Our nine talented teams have spent months planning their entries and are allowed one adrenaline filled night to meticulously stack and color-coordinate their cans into ingenious feats of design. This event showcases the deep talent of local design firms and students, and ultimately donating tens of thousands of cans of food to feed the hungry in our region," said Sara Stein, AIA, LEED AP, President of Capital Region Canstruction and Architect at EYP Architecture and Engineering.

Natasha Pernicka, Executive Director of The Food Pantries for the Capital District said, "The Food Pantries is proud to share its fourth year with Canstruction, as we continue working together to stock the shelves of the Capital Region's Food Pantries. This magnificent event heightens the awareness of the need in our community and has played an important role in helping to feed the hungry in the Capital District. The impact is more powerful than ever as we respond to the sustained high demand for food in our region."

Capital Region Canstruction is supported by The American Institute of Architects' Eastern New York Chapter. This year's Canstruction is presented by Price Chopper with EYP Architecture & Engineering, Ryan-Biggs Associates and media sponsor the Times Union. Gold sponsors include Key Bank, Camelot, A.W. Hastings & Co., Harbrook, CMC-Kuhnke, CSArch, CHA, and Mazzone Hospitality. Silver sponsors include Gilbane, Centria, Eastern Contractors Association and Greco Construction.

Last year's event resulted in a donation of approximately 51,000 cans of food to The Food Pantries for the Capital District. Since its inception in 2011, the Capital Region event has donated approximately 140,000 cans of food and raised more than $34,000 to help fight hunger.

Canstruction events are held annually in over 150 cities around the world including North America, Australia, South America, Europe and Asia. Capital Region Canstruction is currently ranked #10 in the world for most food raised and meals donated.

The New York State Museum is a program of the State Education Department's Office of Cultural Education. Located on Madison Avenue in Albany, the Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Further information can be obtained by calling (518) 474-5877 or visiting the museum website at www.nysm.nysed.gov.