On Sept. 9, at least 100,000 pounds of canned food will make its way to North Star Mall.
The Society for Design Administration is producing the 13th annual “Canstruction” Design/Build competition and Awards Gala on Monday Sept. 10. The canned goods, which are donated, benefit the San Antonio Food Bank and is a major part of a month-long SA Goes Orange for Hunger campaign.
Architectural and design firms in San Antonio compete to build the best structure simply made from canned goods. Canstruction is a international event. Last years’ competition spanned the globe from South Korea to Texas, where both Houston and Dallas landed in the top-5 cities to raise the most food donated.
Cindy Delgado the chair for San Antonio’s Canstruction Committee, said the bigger picture is promoting awareness for individuals who don’t have access to affordable and nutritious food.
“This competition puts San Antonio on the map and into the international conversation of raising awareness for a good cause,” Delgado said.
For the past four years, Loretta Rodriguez has been a part of a design/build collaboration between PBK architects and Kimley-Horn Civil Engineers. Kimley-Horn has worked on several projects at Texas A&M University-San Antonio with a most recent collaboration with PBK for an undisclosed project at the University.
“I like that it has a creative aspect to it and it always comes together in the end,” Rodriguez said.
The winner of the People’s Choice Award, which is the top prize, is rebuilt in the San Antonio Food Bank lobby where it welcomes the community and brings attention to their cause all year long.
On the national exposure of the contest, Susan Filyk, director of communications for the San Antonio Food Bank said, “The fact that the event has taken place for 13 years and the number of dedicated architects, engineers and contractors coming together in a friendly competition which benefits the community in such a creative way is amazing.”
The San Antonio Food Bank has been a beneficiary since the beginning of the contest, and in its 13th year Filyk said that Canstruction has donated more than 472,095 pounds of food to the facility, which covers a 16 county area and serves more than 58,000 people a week.
The Canstruction Awards Gala happens Monday Sept. 10, at 6 p.m. where winners will be announced on a slew of award categories including best meal and best use of the color orange. The Can-built structures will remain on display throughout North Star Mall until Sept. 22.
Anyone wanting to donate to the food bank directly can by visiting the food banks website at www.safoodbank.org. Every dollar donated can provide 7 meals!
