Canstruction 2011 Award Winners

“It’s Time. . . . We CAN End Hunger” by ARRINGTON WATKINS / DIBBLE ENGINEERING / GILBANE BUILDING COMPANY LSW ENGINEERS / PARAGON STRUCTURAL DESIGN

• Juror's Favorite

Hunger doesn’t take a day off. It doesn’t go on a vacation. Hunger isn’t seasonal. It is present 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year. But it is possible to beat hunger. Now is the time!

“DESPICABLE Meals, No More!” by FORM DESIGN STUDIO / RYAN COMPANIES / JRC DESIGN JLC CONSULTING / KENDLE DESIGN COLLABORATIVE

• Honorable Mention

Dr. Gru and his army of silly Minions are up for the challenge of defeating our worst enemy – hunger. Taking a lesson from the Minions, by working together, we can make a difference. The silly Minions would make anyone smile with (2) different kinds of organic ravioli – with both blue and yellow labels. Puffed marshmallow cream makes their oversized eye-goggles, with a head strap out of black olives. Their happy grins are protein-packed Slim Jims. Dr. Gru’s classic black, European-inspired suit is made of black olives, with peas for his jacket zipper. His neck scarf is more olives simply spun in alternating directions. His hands and big, squat, bald head is made of cans of smoked ham, with blue-label tuna eyes, and a black-label tuna mouth.

“The Stagecoach Journey – A Mission to End Hunger” by DWL ARCHITECTS + PLANNERS, INC. / MORTENSON CONSTRUCTION

• Honorable Mention
• AIA Phoenix Metro People's Choice Award

Considered the finest passenger vehicle of its time, the stagecoach traveled an average five miles an hour, changing horses at swing stations every 12 miles and stopping for meals at home stations about every 45 miles. Built high and wide to handle the rough, rutted roads of a new country, the stagecoach body’s curved frame gave it strength. Perfectly formed, fitted and balanced wheels stood up to decades of drenching mountain storms and parching desert heat.

Stored under the stagecoach driver’s seat was the famous iron-bound, green treasure box, which held bags of gold nuggets and gold dust, the most valuable assets of the West. However, our stagecoach displayed here today is hauling an even more precious treasure: a dream to end hunger, and the means to meet that ambitious goal.

“’Hal the Hungry Hungry Hippo” by URBAN LAND INSTITUTE / ARIZONA YOUNG LEADERS GROUP

• Best Meal

Can you open your jaw 150 degrees? Hippos can! Hal, our Hungry Hungry Hippo is us-ing his special talent and 2000 pound biting force to take a chomp out of hunger!

“Take Hunger off the Grid” by SMITHGROUP / DPR / JJR|FLOOR

• Best Structural Ingenuity

The SmithGroup/ DPR/ JJR|Floor design team has created a structure of the popular Hollywood blockbuster “TRON: Legacy”. The design features the iconic Light Cycle inside the Grid. Flowing from the Light Cycle is a Light Ribbon represented by a wall of indestructible cans. This design will help “Take Hunger off the Grid” as the team raised over $8,000 in cans thanks to generous sponsors and the SmithGroup/DPR/JJR|Floor design team!

“’The CANdidate for Change – is You” by MCCARTHY BUILDING COMPANIES / LEO A DALY

• Best Use of Labels

Even in these challenging economic times we live in one of the most prosperous nations in the world. But from sea to shining sea there are still people in The United States of America (men, women and children) for whom hunger is a daily concern. The solution to ending hunger in America begins and ends with YOU – the individual. Imagine yourself as the CANdidate for Change. Ask yourself “What can I do to stop hunger in America today?”

Our structure this year utilizes 4440 cans and 60 bags, contributing 4,500 pounds of nutritious food to St. Mary’s Food Bank. The curved wall is 4 cans deep, 13 cans high and varies from 52 cans to 57 cans to accommodate the curvature of the construction. The CANdidate, representing each of us, is 100% filled to the core and comprises the majority of our structure.

Thank you to everyone who donated, designed, built, and cared.