by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Combine some of the most talented local architects, designers and engineers with thousands of packages and cans of nonperishable food and a desire to make a difference for hungry people and what do you get? The ninth Annual Canstruction competition benefiting The Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida.
The project is a presentation of the Society for Design Administration and similar competitions are being held in cities across North America. In addition to the Main Library, the 2010 local sponsors are the Jacksonville Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and Futch Printing and Mailing.
The teams competing this year are from Bergmann Associates, Gresham Smith and Partners, Haskell, HDR Engineering Inc. and RS&H/AB Consulting.
Julia Valleau, an intern architect at Haskell, chaired this year’s local Canstruction effort. She has led the company’s team for two years and said the project is a good way to use the members’ architectural skills.
“It’s actually quite a challenge,” said Valleau. “I found myself going to the grocery store and looking at cans of food to visualize how they might fit together.”
Haskell’s team captain this year was Administrative Assistant Lori Trudeau. She said the designers chose a video game theme, “Wii Bowling,” because it’s current and different from anything the eight-person team has ever designed for Canstruction.
“It was a group effort. We asked the team ‘what’s new? What’s happening out there?’ The project helps Second Harvest and it’s a fun way to get together and combine the things we do professionally with community service,” she said.
The competition aspect of the program involves several award categories. During tonight’s First Wednesday Art Walk, the public can vote for its favorite design to determine the “People’s Choice Award.” A panel of judges will also select this year’s winners for “Jurors’ Favorite,” “Structural Integrity,” “Best Use of Labels” and “Best Meal.”
Last year the project donated nearly 4,000 pounds of food to Second Harvest which equates to more than 3,000 meals for hungry families. In its first eight years Canstruction contributed 100,000 pounds of food was distributed to more than 500 nonprofit organizations that serve people in need in 18 counties in North Florida.
The entries will be at the Main Library until March 15 when a crew from Second Harvest will arrive to disassemble the Canstruction and take the components to the food bank.
356-2466