This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, March 10, 2009 - Twelve teams of students and professionals took on more than 40,000 cans Friday at the ninth annual Canstruction Competition. Over 24 hours, the teams built structures using donated canned food to raise hunger awareness.
The can-made structures are on display through March 16 throughout the St. Louis Mills mall in Hazelwood. Mall visitors can vote on their favorite structure and are encouraged to bring more food for the can donation.
After the competition ends, the structures will be dismantled and the canned food will be donated to The St. Louis Area Food bank and the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry.
Vickie Hayden, member of the Society for Design Administration in St. Louis, said that Save-a-Lot will match every canned food donation that mall visitors bring.
Canstruction was started by the Society for Design Administration in the early 1990s. Prizes are awarded for various categories, including Best Use of Label, Best Meal and Structural Ingenuity.
But for many of the students, architectural and design firms it is about giving back to the community.
"It's for a good cause, it's good for building, and it's fun," said Chad Johnson of the engineering company RJN Group. The groups even help to gather canned food. "We've donated over 4,000 cans," Johnson said.
Although the teams have 24 hours to build their structures, they often have spent many more hours in preparation.
Steve Hoover of the architecture firm Arcturis said his group has been doing the competition for six year, and the construction usually takes about 8-10 hours. But the team spends about 20-30 hours preparing for the competition.
Save-A-Lot, Charter Communications and the Society for Design Administration are sponsoring the event. Save-A-Lot is the newest sponsor joining the event for the first time this year.
"The Society for Design Administration's creation of the program demonstrates how everyone can get involved using their own talents in the fight against hunger," Hayden said.
Brett Lohmeyer, a student at St. Louis Community College Meramec, is an intern with the Beacon.