Stacks of Cans Transform Into High Art at Brookfield Place’s Canstruction

Construction enthusiasts and former LEGO addicts, take note: starting this week, Brookfield Place will once again host the annual can-stacking design competition Canstruction. 28 teams of architects, engineers and designers from high-profile firms such as Arup, Gensler and WSP will go head-to-head to build the largest, most impressive sculptures made entirely from carefully arranged tin cans. Previous iterations have seen creations ranging from gravity-defying rocket ships, moons and planets to human-sized deli coffee cups. What to expect at this year’s event is anyone’s guess!

The sculptures will be on display from Thursday, November 2 to Monday, November 13 at Brookfield Place. While you’re there, don’t forget to vote for your favorite in the People’s Choice category. There will also be a drop-off point where you can donate your own non-perishable food, which will later be donated to City Harvest along with the sculptures themselves to provide food for New Yorkers in need.

Canstruction is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that holds can art competitions in over 100 cities worldwide each year, and has raised over 82 million pounds of food since 1992 for local food banks to distribute. City Harvest is the largest and oldest food rescue organization in New York, rescuing over one billion pounds of fresh food from wastage since 1982.