Canstruction® Oh, the People We Can Feed

Thursday, September 20th, 2018

Canstruction® is an annual national design-build competition showcasing local professionals while raising public awareness for those who are experiencing hunger.

The local program is in support of Second Harvest Heartland, a Minnesota-based 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that works to end hunger through community partnerships. Second Harvest Heartland is one of the nation’s largest, most efficient and most innovative hunger relief organizations.

Pope Architects volunteers and sponsors worked together to create a plan to build a one-of-a-kind giant Canstruction® sculptural tribute to Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go”.

Over a few hours of work at the Mall of America rotunda, the team assembled the sculpture while working side by side with six other competing teams. The Canstruction® sculptures were on display from September 15-17, 2018.

Through the use of 2,250 cans of food and the team’s creativity and ambition, Pope Architects’ Oh, the People We Can Feed sculpture was awarded the Structural Integrity honor.

Second Harvest Heartland helped provide more than 81 million meals to nearly 1,000 food shelves, pantries and other partner programs serving 59 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin in 2017.

According to their website, “These astounding structures are helping to change our communities – by lifting the spirits of those in need, by raising public awareness, and most importantly, by collecting thousands of pounds of food, all of which will be donated to Second Harvest Heartland when the event is complete.”

The Canstruction® competition is organized by the Society of Design Administration, American Institute of Architects and Mall of America.

Check out a video shared by the Mall of America on their Facebook page.