About CANstruction
CANstruction® is a not-for-profit organization that addresses hunger across the world. CANstruction competitions are held in cities across the United States and internationally.
Capital Region CANstruction is an annual exhibit and design competition that connects talented architects, engineers, contractors, and students in the capital of New York State to imagine and create colossal structures built completely out of canned food items. The structures are displayed for two weeks, raising awareness of food insecurity in our region while highlighting local design talent. At the close of the exhibit, every can is donated to the Food Pantries for the Capital District to help feed families in the Capital Region.
All competitions are governed by a standardized set of rules and regulations. Each city’s entries are judged in a number of categories by a local panel and winning designs compete, via photography, at the AIA Convention each year. The timing of each city’s event varies. Capital Region CANstruction is held each spring, as that is when our local food pantries have the greatest need. The food and funds from our annual event help bridge the need between the often abundant holiday season and the typically slow summer months.
If you have any questions please contact Jill Shorter, President, at JShorter@ryanbiggs.com or 518-406-5506 ext 301.
Capital Region CANstruction Impact
Thousands of hungry people are fed wherever a CANstruction competition is held.
In addition to the cans that make up the exhibit, the public is asked to provide support by bringing cans when they visit the exhibit. Bins are provided next to each CANstructure and each can is used as a voting tool - the team/structure that collects the most cans during the length of the exhibit wins the coveted People’s Choice Award.
Since our inception in 2011, Capital Region CANstruction has donated over 907,863 lbs of food and $378,954.51 to The Food Pantries for the Capital District.
To learn how you can contribute to the next Capital Region CANstruction, visit our Events page.
The Girls CAN Do Program
Each year, local girl scout troops from Girl Scouts of Northeastern New York are challenged to create structures entirely made of canned food.
This program seeks to teach girls about STEAM principles coupled with giving back to their local community. Each year, we look forward to seeing the CAN creations imagined by these amazing young ladies and their use of creativity, problem solving, and teamwork as they engineer and build their structures.
