For the 11th year, Atlanta design teams consisting of local architects, engineers, design professionals and contractors will convert commonplace canned food into amazing, larger-than-life sculptures in a national competition event entitled Canstruction.  This special exhibit will be held for one week only, Friday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 15, 8 a.m.to 9 p.m. daily at Underground Atlanta located at 50 Upper Alabama Street SW.

This free event exhibits thousands of pounds of canned goods constructed into striking, architecturally designed sculptures.  The various design teams are required to use nothing but cans, tape, cardboard, rubber bands, string, Plexiglas and wire, to create sculptures of everything from castles to cartoon characters.

The teams will have only seven hours to assemble their colossal sculptures on Thursday, Nov. 5 at Underground Atlanta.  Media can cover the build-out at any time during the seven hours, but will be able to capture the highest level of activity and best photo opportunities between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Following the seven-hour build-out of the structures, a select panel of prominent Atlanta jurors, including Councilman Kwanza Hall, will name winners in eight categories.  These include Best Use of Labels, Best Meal, Best Structural Ingenuity and Most Number of Cans.  Winners will be announced Friday, Nov. 6 from 6-8 p.m. at a special gala.  Atlanta’s Canstruction winners will be entered into a national competition.

Concluding the competition, gala and weeklong showcase, all of the canned food will be donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank for distribution to hundreds of nonprofits with hunger-relief programs in Metro Atlanta and North Georgia.  These include shelters, food pantries, after school programs, senior centers and community kitchens.

The event is organized by the American Institute of Architects – Atlanta chapter (AIA Atlanta), the Society for Design Administration Atlanta Chapter, and is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, The Kroger Co., Imaging Technologies, LASERSHIP, Cooper Carry, C&S Painting, Inc. and Tandus.

For more information about Canstruction, visit www.aiaatlanta.org and www.ACFB.org.