Architects challenge engineers

After the judging occurs at the Port of Vancouver’s Canada Place venue in March, the food (thousands of tins and food packages such as cereal) will be donated to Lower Mainland food banks which are by spring running low after the Christmas rush of donations.

CANSTRUCTION LAUNCH

Food to be donated to local area food banks

Correspondent

Vancouver

B.C.’s architects have sent out the challenge to the engineers – put up or topple. The fifth annual Vancouver Canstruction kicked off Jan. 9 in the offices of the Architectural Institute of B.C. (AIBC) and marked the first year that the AIBC had challenged the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of B.C. (APEGBC ) in the contest which sees contestants design and build structures, creatures, and things – even a large martini glass – out of cans and packages of food.

Stuart Howard, representing the architects, popped the lid on the challenge. He said while there were 10 engineers to every architect, architects were “the most creative and energetic”.

In past competitions, architects lead teams had designed and built “the most elaborate, fun and extraordinary can structures” while whispers regarding a can creation that tumbled last year indicated “it was designed by an engineer”. Howard said the architects also challenged the engineers to meet or beat the prize money contribution that the architects had put up for the winning prize.

APEGBC’s Andy Mill, known for chairing an association committee on earthquakes, was unshaken but stirred by the challenge. “There is no doubt the engineers will accept this challenge,” he said. “But we need to set some ground rules – no biting and no spitting.”

Mill said he wanted to make it clear that engineers are known for designing the structure, the mechanical, and making buildings stable. “You guys (architects) just have the envelope.” (Mill made no mention of toilet paper or Volkswagons, commonly used building materials for engineers when doing creative projects).

The rivalry is expected to pull in a record number of construction teams – which must have as a member an architect, engineer, design artist, graphic artist, or someone able to provide a design. Currently, 15 teams have already enlisted.

The Vancouver Canstruction event is one of several in Canada, however, it is ranked as one of the top three out of 70 such events in North America in terms of its ability to raise food for the hungry. Vancouver rivals Boston and New York in its ability to raise food through the event, said Margot Paris, Canstruction chairperson.

Larger centres such as Toronto have held events for the past eight years. “We have raised twice as much food in half the time,” she said when comparing Vancouver’s four –year contribution to Toronto.

Vancouver has raised 475,000 cans of food in four years and is hoping that this year’s event will bring the total to over 600,000 cans of food. The average structure takes 2,000 to 10,000 cans or packages of food. This year’s theme, which is optional, is “Our Favourite Things”, which can mean a favourite food, animal, architectural icon, comic book hero or sport. Canstruction Vancouver is held under the auspices of the Society of Design Administration. Visit www.canstructionvancouver.com for more information.