Architecture students from San Antonio College’s American Institute of Architects (AIA) chapter volunteered at the Annual Canstruction Competition Build Day at North Star Mall Sept. 8 to elevate public awareness of the worldwide hunger crisis.
SAC AIA students competed against other architecture and engineering groups to build sculptures made from canned goods donated by the Broadway Bank. Students were given five hours to complete their builds, and each team’s can installations were judged in categories such as Structural Ingenuity, Best Use of Labels, Best Meal, and Juror’s Favorite by a panel of community members.
“This is a fantastic way for architecture and engineering students to work as a team and network,” said Architect Lecturer Christopher Verette. “Students can very easily catch the eye of a future employer.”
Having planned designs before construction, SAC students worked together to sort the cans before stacking them with the help of cardboard cutouts. Instead of one solid base, SAC’s sculpture is supported by multiple, curving pillars.
“We did a lot of research over the summer to see which cans had the best color and healthy ingredients,” said architecture student Isaac Sanchez. “We went through five to ten iterations involving different combinations of cans.”
SAC’s sculpture did not earn any awards, but the sculptures will remain on display until Sept. 22, allowing the public to vote for the People’s Choice Award. The winning sculpture will be displayed at the San Antonio Food Bank for a year, and the canned goods from all the sculptures will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank.
“Our build is strong due to its unique structure,” Verette said. “Whereas some builds may appear simpler, they’re more attuned to a specific competitive category. There is always a lot of improvisation on build day … Issues are mostly figured out on the spot. In the end, this collaboration is usually a success.”
According to AIA San Antonio, as of 2023, Canstruction San Antonio has donated more than half a million cans of food. In its first decade, the event contributed 472,095 pounds of food to the San Antonio Food Bank.
