Canstruction design-build competition to fight hunger coming to the Tri-cities

The Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles Chambers of Commerce are hoping to harness the creativity and engineering skills of residents to help fight hunger in the area.

The three chambers have launched the first Tri-Cities Canstruction, a large-scale community design competition that involves building structures entirely out of canned food.

The chambers are working with Canstruction, an international hunger relief charity that hosts design and build competitions around the world that have resulted in millions of pounds of food being donated to local hunger relief organizations.

Teams made up of businesses, schools and other organizations work alongside an architect, engineer or professional contractor to design and build the canned food structures. Each team will be able to designate the local food pantry it wishes to support.

The structures will ultimately be built, judged and on exhibit at Waubonsee Community College’s Academic and Professional Center in Sugar Grove for public viewing.

“These are not simple displays,” Margaret Perreault, co-chair of the Tri-Cities Canstruction Steering Committee, said in a news release. “They are incredible works of art and engineering that also serve a powerful purpose. This project brings together creativity, collaboration, and compassion in a way that is both inspiring and impactful for our entire community.”

Structures can be up to 10 feet by 10 feet in size, with each build utilizing an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 cans. Teams will compete in a variety of judged categories, including structural ingenuity, best use of labels, jurors’ favorite and people’s choice.

Visitors to the free event will walk through a gallery containing up to 18 canned food structures. A VIP Night will be held on Feb. 18, 2027, and the event will open to the public on Feb. 19, 2027.

Post-expense proceeds, along with an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 cans of food, will be donated directly to participating food pantries.

Groups interested in participating or sponsoring the event are encouraged to contact the chambers for additional information or email tricitiescanstruction@gmail.com.

“This initiative is about much more than canned food,” Melinda Kintz, co-chair of the Tri-Cities Canstruction, said in the release. “It is about community collaboration, awareness, innovation, and making a meaningful difference for families experiencing food insecurity.”