Summary: “Audrey II: Feed Me” created by NK Architects, Jersey City, N.J., was proclaimed “Jurors’ Favorite” at the 11th annual International CANstruction® Competition juried May 3 in conjunction with the AIA 2007 National Convention in San Antonio. CANstruction, administered by the Society for Design Administration (SDA) and held in conjunction with AIA state and local chapters and allied professional organizations, is an annual charity competition in which design firms vie to see who can build the most astounding structure made entirely of full cans of food. All of the food used in the structures then is donated to local food banks. Structures are self-supporting, and the only other materials permitted are cardboard and fasteners. This past year, competitions took place in 76 cities across North America. Local winners went on to compete via photography and were judged at the AIA/SDA national convention. National Executive Director Cheri C. Melillo, Hon. AIA, reports that this year’s effort will total more than 2 million pounds of food that will have been donated to local food banks.

And the winners are:

JURORS’ FAVORITE

Audrey II: Feed Me
NK Architects
Jersey City, N.J.
“It has everything: color, form, structure, design, detail, craft, scale. And it’s appealing!” said the jury.

STRUCTURAL INGENUITY

Möbius Strip
Platt Byard Dovell White Architects
New York CIty
Jury: “Daring. Beautiful blend of structure and form. Great color and scale. Everything about it is brave. A structural tour de force. Completely integrated. Looks like if you removed one can it would fall over. An “I-CAN.”

BEST USE OF LABELS

Burning Hunger
Leslie E. Robertson Associates, RLLP
3,432 cans
New York City
Jury: The placement of the colors made it look painterly. The attenuation of the flames made it a beautiful object. It had a lot of movement and “canned” heat. Loved the choice of foods—“red hot chili.”

BEST MEAL

Gnome More Hunger
DMJM Design
3,955 cans
Los Angeles
Jury: He has personality— the eyes follow you. Wonderful use of labels, wonderful shaping. It’s a balanced meal and it looks like he’s had a few good meals!

HONORABLE MENTION

First Winner
We CAN Help, One CAN at a Time”
Ted Moudis Associates
6,504 cans
New York City
Jury: Works on multiple levels. Beautiful piece of sculpture, well crafted, a pure stack, the symbolic meaning epitomized CANstruction’s ‘One Can’ slogan.”

Second Winner
CAN Voyage
Freese & Nichols
5,400 cans
Fort Worth
Jury: It has sleek elegance, beautiful lines, great cantilever, a completeness of composition, the purity of using only cans to detail the water and wake.

MOST CANS

15,084 cans
Balancing Act
McGill Smith Punshon Inc.
Cincinnati
(Chosen from those structures that won an award at the local level.)