Members of architectural, engineering, design and construction firms attend Canstruction Long Island

Members of 20 Long Island architectural, engineering, design and construction firms were joined this year by students from two local schools as they competed for top honors in Canstruction Long Island 2011, the design/build competition that helps fight hunger in our communities. Each structure portrayed the theme of ending hunger, and included a life-sized Chess Set, Snoopy and Woodstock, a Train, Pac Man, a Care Bear, and the Freedom Tower, to name a few. Many returning teams started formulating the designs for their structures immediately following last year's event, and the evidence was clear to visitors viewing the exhibit. Teams designed, planned, fundraised, and shopped for their creations for months, but had less than 24 hours to build the final structures at RXR Plaza in Uniondale, NY. The "Most Cans Award" provided an extra measure of excitement this year, as two teams vied for the honor, which was decided by the slimmest of margins. H2M architects + engineers emerged victorious with 6,675 cans, while runner-up PW Grosser Consulting Engineers was close behind with 6,671 cans. This year's entries were judged by John Sorrenti, FAIA, President, JRS Architect, PC, Gilbert Anderson, PE, Commissioner, Suffolk County DPW, Carol Friedman, Assistant Vice President, Department of Design and Construction at Nassau Community College, and Paul Anthony, WALK General Sales Manager and Founder of the Long Island Comedy Festival. All cans of food were donated to Long Island Cares, The Harry Chapin Food Bank to help feed the hungry on Long Island. Many of the participating teams donated excess funds they had raised, resulting in a $3,100 cash donation to the organization, as well. The five annual Canstruction® Long Island events held since 2007 have donated over 193,000 cans of food to help feed those in need in Nassau and Suffolk County. Canstruction Long Island, Inc. is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) public charity formed to produce the annual Canstruction® Long Island design/build competition under the auspices of the Society for Design Administration. www.CanstructionLI.org Photographs by Romulo Martinez