A structure made entirely out of canned goods featured in last year's CANstruction event.


CANstruction, a design and build competition aimed at helping local food banks across the nation, will return to Chicago on June 10, five days before the opening of NeoCon 2009. The annual contest, now in its third year, lets local architects, engineers and construction companies compete to create structures using canned goods, all of which are donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

The structures are restricted to a 10’X10’X8’H space, in designated areas throughout Chicago Merchandise Mart, home base of the upcoming NeoCon World's Trade Fair. The structures will be on display at The Mart throughout June. At the close of the exhibition, all of the canned goods will be donated.

Last year’s CANstruction event raised approximately 85,000 of cans of food from 20 structures. This year’s event is expected to exceed that amount, according to organizers.