Canstruction
- October 30 – November 9, 2026 10AM-7PM
BFPL Complex (Various Locations)
Canstruction is coming back to Brookfield Place this fall! The beloved annual design competition challenges teams of architects, engineers, and contractors to build sculptures made entirely out of unopened cans of food. The large-scale sculptures are displayed in an exhibition open to the public and later donated to City Harvest to help feed those in need. See be;pw for all of the ways to engage with Canstruction!
LOCATION:
Canstruction takes place throughout Brookfield Place, which is located at 230 Vesey Street in Lower Manhattan. Visit the Information Table in the Winter Garden at BFPL to donate cans of food and learn more.
SCHEDULE:
+ Live Build: Thursday, October 29 | 10am – 6pm (approx. 6 – 8 hrs)
+ Exhibition on view: Friday, October 30 – Monday, November 9 | 10am – 7pm, daily
(Note: Canstruction will end at 6pm on the final night of the exhibition.)
WAYS TO ENGAGE:
+ LIVE BUILD: Join us in the Winter Garden and watch as one of the incredible Canstruction sculptures is built before your very eyes on Thursday, October 29. Begins at 10AM and takes about 6-8 hours.
+ TOURS: Educational tours of the Canstruction exhibition are available at the times below. Space is limited and pre-registration is required (link coming approximately 2 weeks before).
- Saturday, October 31, 11:00AM
- Wednesday, November 4, 5:30PM
- Thursday, November 5, 12:00PM
- Saturday, November 7, 11:00AM
+ DONATE: Help the cause when you visit! Drop off canned food to be donated to City Harvest in the Winter Garden, 10am-7pm.
+ VOTE: Cast your ballot for the “People’s Choice” award and vote for your favorite sculpture. Link to vote coming soon!
+ KIDS ACTIVITY SHEET: Grab a worksheet for your little ones that will help guide them through the exhibition with thoughtful questions and activities.
COMPETING TEAMS:
The teams competing in this year’s competition include:
Arup, Beyer Blinder Belle, Buro Happold, CetraRuddy, DeSimone Consulting Engineers, Gannett Fleming (GFT), Gensler, HOK, LERA Consulting Structural Engineers, Marvel & TYLin, Meyers+ Engineers & McNamara Salvia Structural Engineers, NV5, Perkins Eastman, Severud Associates, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), Sweet Group, Thornton Tomasetti, and WSP USA.
JURORS:
To be announced.
About Our Partners
Canstruction® New York is a 501(c)(3) Corporation. Canstruction was founded by the Society for Design Administration (SDA), whose purpose is to advance management and administrative professionals in the architecture, engineering, and construction industries through education, networking, leadership, and resources. Canstruction hosts competitions and events worldwide, creating awe-inspiring, gigantic structures made entirely out of non- perishable food. Learn more: Website | Facebook | Instagram
City Harvest is New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization—nourishing people, strengthening communities, and protecting the planet. We rescue nutritious, high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it for free to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners, and our own Mobile Markets® across the five boroughs. In response to the urgent and high demand for food assistance and our commitment to sustainability, this year we will rescue 100 million pounds of food and deliver it to New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity. With deep connections to the communities where we work and with a focus on localized investment, City Harvest strengthens our agency partners and the local food system through capacity building, advocacy, and nutrition education. Named one of America’s Top 100 Charities by Forbes and recognized as a leading equity-driven organization, City Harvest has provided more than one billion pounds of food to our neighbors in need since our founding in 1982. Learn more: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Good Times. Great Events.Our Calendar's Full
- March 23 - October 19
Explore the bold and vibrant large-scale installations by British artist duo Graphic Rewilding at Brookfield Place, which transform the space into an immersive celebration of the natural world.
- January 27 - November 9, 2026
Artist Katrina Sánchez’s installation reimagines the gesture of weaving as a visual and emotional language—a sensory exploration that offers a way to ground oneself in a fast-paced world.
