Vancouver Team Wins Top Structural Prize at Canstruction® International
A local Vancouver team has received top honours at the Canstruction® International competition. Levelton Consultants took home the “Structural Integrity” award for their sculpture of a breaching Orca whale, entitled “A Breach in Hunger.” The awards were presented at a gala event in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 17.
Canstruction® is an international design-build competition that challenges teams to build structures entirely of non-perishable food, which is later donated to local food banks. Levelton Consultants advanced to the international competition after “A Breach in Hunger” won three awards at Canstruction® Vancouver in February. The structural integrity of the sculpture relied on internal cables strung through pegboard to support the 12,800 cans of tuna that form the breaching Orca. The 6,000 cans of tuna in the Orca's head are cantilevered a total of 4.5 feet beyond the body, and the large counter-balanced fins appear to float above the water below, which is composed of carefully stacked bottles of water.
Jurors at the international competition gave the Levelton structure top marks, declaring it “structurally ingenious, a sculptural image, conceptually compelling, stunning, beautiful – a fish made from fish food.” The jury considered entries from approximately 100 competing cities across North America.
Canstruction® team recruitment begins in late fall for the 2009 competition. More information is available at www.canstructionvancouver.com.
