Canstruction 2025

Canstruction is back at Brookfield Place! 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.

There are a variety of ways to engage with and learn more about Canstruction, including a live build, guided tours, an activity worksheet for youngsters, and more!

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 speak to a brand ambassador to learn more! VIEW MAP OF EXHIBITION >>

SCHEDULE:

• Live Build: Thursday, October 30 | 10AM – 6PM (approx. 6-8 hrs.)
  
• Exhibition on view: Friday, October 31 – Monday, November 10 | 10AM – 7PM, daily

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 by the DeSimone Consulting Engineering team on Thursday, October 30. Begins at 10AM and takes about 6-8 hours.
  • Sixpoint Brewery will be in the Winter Garden during the Live Build, from 2-5PM, sampling some of their delicious beers! Must be 21+ to participate.
• TOURS: Educational tours of the Canstruction exhibition are available at the times below. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Walk-ons accommodated if space is available. REGISTER HERE >>
  • Saturday, November 1 from 3-4PM
  • Wednesday, November 5 from 5-6PM
  • Thursday, November 6 from 12-1PM
  • Saturday, November 8 from 10-10:45AM (Tour for Kids)
  • Saturday, November 8 from 11AM-12PM
• 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 your little ones a worksheet that will help guide them through the exhibition with thoughtful questions and activities.
• DIGITAL RECIPE BOOK: Download and discover inventive, canned-food recipes from some of Brookfield Place’s acclaimed retailers, as well as from City Harvest’s Nutrition & Culinary Education team. Link coming soon!

COMPETING TEAMS:
The 23 teams competing in this year’s competition include:
Arcadis, Arup, Buro Happold + CannonDesign, CetraRuddy, Dattner Architects, Design Park, DeSimone Consulting Engineers, Gannett Fleming (GFT), Gensler, Hatfield Group Engineering, HOK, JB&B, LERA Consulting Structural Engineers, Mancini Duffy, Marvel & TYLin, Meyers+ Engineers & McNamara Salvia Structural Engineers, NV5, Perkins Eastman, Severud Associates, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH), Thornton Tomasetti, Urbahn Architects, and WSP USA.

JURORS:
Jurors include Russell Kahn, Chief Content and Education Officer of newsomatic.org; Tim O’Connor, PLS, Associate Principal of Langan; Natasha Pickowicz, Chef and Author; Kelsey Reynolds, Senior Associate, Retail Leasing, Brookfield Properties; Phil Scotti, owner of P.J. Clarke’s; and Sandra Tripp, Principal & Managing Director of the New York Office of Huntsman Architectural Group.

ABOUT CANSTRUCTION

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.

ABOUT CITY HARVEST

City Harvest is New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization, rescuing nutritious, high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste and delivering it for free to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners, and their own Mobile Markets® across the five boroughs. In response to the urgent and ongoing demand for food assistance and a commitment to sustainability, this year City Harvest will rescue more than 86 million pounds of food and deliver it to New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.

Interested in sponsorship or event rentals? Contact Rentals@Brookfield.com for more information.