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CANstruction Reno is BACK!
The design and build competition that challenges teams to create sculptural masterpieces out of canned food before donating it to the Food Bank returns on May 1 for it’s 21st annual competition, and we can’t wait for you to see it!
It all begins with a 12-hour building day on Wednesday, May 1. You are welcome (and encouraged!) to stop by Center Court at Meadowood Mall to watch the teams in-action. On May 2, our panel of judges will gather to select winners in five award categories: Best Use of Labels, Most Cans, Most Original Design, Structural Ingenuity, and Best Meal.
But One very important and highly sought award will be up to YOU
The People’s Choice Award will be presented to the team with the most votes cast during the week-long voting campaign. Every vote costs $1, with all proceeds from voting benefiting the Food Bank of Northern Nevada. Online voting opens at 8am on Wednesday and closes at 6pm Monday, May 6. Structures will be up for viewing at Meadowood Mall through Sunday, May 5. For those who may not be able to view the structures in-person at Meadowood Mall, photos will be posted here once the build is completed on Wednesday.
Voting for this year’s People’s Choice Award has ended. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and thanks to each of our teams, sponsors, and those who voted for making this the 21st Annual CANStruction Reno a great success!
Check out each of the incredible structures below
Team 1: Food Bank of Northern Nevada Staff | Playtime with Jack
In the state of Nevada, one in five of our children doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from. Child hunger is a serious problem for all of us in our community. Children who miss meals may struggle in school, have more health problems and most of all, don’t have the luxury of just being a kid. Our Jack in the Box signifies our desire for all children to be able to play, have fun, learn, and know that the nutritious food they need to grow and thrive is there for them. Thank you for making that a reality for our kids.
Team 2: Sierra Nevada Job Corp & JKAE | C.L.I.M.B. Ladder to Success
Sierra Nevada Job Corp Centers Mountain is seen as a symbol of growth and progress. It embodies the values of Creating achievements, Living safely, Inspiring engagement, Modeling encouragement, and Building respect. The ladder on the mountain is a representation of dedication, perseverance, and self-control. Climbing the ladder signifies the ability to make advancements, reach set targets, and understand the importance of every small step forward.
Team 3: Plenium Builders | Solving the Hunger Puzzle
Winner: Best Use of Labels
Resolving hunger can be compared to solving a complex puzzle like the Rubik’s Cube. It requires strategic thinking, persistence, and determination to address the multiple facets of hunger and achieve food security for all. Just like the Rubik’s Cube has multiple layers and combinations, hunger is a multi-dimensional issue influenced by factors such as poverty, inequality, conflict, climate change, and food waste. Solving hunger requires a comprehensive approach that addresses these interconnected challenges.
Team 4: Hidden Valley Ranch | Big Ol’ Bottle of Ranch
Winner: Best Meal
Here at Hidden Valley Manufacturing, ranch is on our minds all day, every day. Actually, we’re incapable of coming up with another design – our ranch-creating muscle memory wouldn’t allow it. Made with refreshing Sierra Nevada water, Hidden Valley Ranch has been produced in Reno for more than 50 years. We are going full throttle on this bottle, with it sitting at eight feet tall! The cans in this structure were carefully chosen to have colors that imitate a ranch bottle. Enjoy!
Team 5: Coral Academy of Science | Canley the Tumbler
Our students thought long and hard about how to bridge the gap between middle school and the real world and have gone with a classic design that took the world by storm and has sold over 10 million tumblers since 2020. Used by gym fanatics, middle school girls, busy moms, and anyone who just likes to keep their water cold, the Stanley tumblers have become a national hit! Our design comes to life with the use of bright colored cans and using food we hope you don’t store in your own tumbler- chunk chicken, black beans, and pinto beans. We present to you, the Canley Tumbler!
Team 6: Mountain View Montessori School | The Golden Snappy
Winner: Best Original Design & People’s Choice
Mountain View Montessori has created a goofy botanical beast, the Golden Snappy. This venus-fly-trap like plant with his giant mouth and sharp teeth is more than happy to put the “petal” to the metal and grow into the Meadowood Mall. This fantastic plant is working to uproot hunger here in Reno. Golden Snappy is the rarest of a larger set of fun plant-based creatures made by the Adolescent Community at Mountain View Montessori. The sturdy pot helps the impressive stem stand up by engineering and balance. The head is shaped like a light blue and gold football. The pot is brown and the stem and leaves are green. For stem cans we used chopped spinach, and the pot is roast beef hash and Manwich sauce. Finally the head is pinto beans, black beans, and steakhouse black beans.
Team 7: Linchpin Structural Engineering & Formgrey Studio Architects | Fill “UP” Bellies in Northern Nevada
Up, up, and away with hunger! Our structure showcases the iconic UP house, with a gravity-defying bunch of balloons floating above puffy white clouds. The ultimate destination of our project is a land where adventure is the goal and food scarcity is a distant memory. A vibrant rainbow of cans forms the balloon canopy, mirroring the rainbow of foods required for a nutritious diet- fruits, vegetables, and plant and animal proteins all make appearances.
Team 8: Sky Ranch Middle School Blue Team & PK Electrical | gHOST & gAME bOARD
& Team 9: Sky Ranch Middle School Orange Team & PK Electrical | pAC-cAN
Winner: most Cans (Blue Team) & Structural Ingenuity (Orange Team)
Ghost Hunger! An a-maze-ing display of canned goodness! Behold the Pac-Can! This masterpiece features rows of yellow cans meticulously arranged to form the iconic Pac-Man gobbling up his way through a maze. The ghost is strategically placed to mimic the chasing action. As you admire this edible art installation, you won’t help but marvel at the creativity and attention to detail that went into bringing this classic arcade game to life in a whole new way. It’s a can-tastic tribute to nostalgia and snacking fun!
The Pac-Can structure not only pays homage to the beloved video game character but also serves as a reminder of the importance of giving back to the community. After the exhibit, all the cans used in this construction will be donated to local food banks, ensuring that they fulfill their ultimate destiny of nourishing those in need. So, as you gaze upon this whimsical creation, remember that in the world of CANstruction, every can counts – just like every pellet Pac-Man munches!
Team 10: Brycon Corp. & Project One | The Bulldozer
We have attempted to replicate one of the most common large construction vehicles typically found on a job site as a reference to the work we do for our community. We are the builders and designers for our community’s future. The Bulldozer is our representation of applying innovation and technology, working hard, and showing strength in the face of adversity. We hope to inspire you to do something for those around you, and help build a better future for everyone.
CANstruction is organized by American Institute of Architects of Northern Nevada and made possible by Frame Architecture, Hawkins & Associates, Inc, Northern Nevada Building Trades Development Corp., and Fred & Janice Graham. CANstruction is also supported by Meadowood Mall, WinCo Foods, and Freeman..
