Delgado’s Architectural/Design Construction Technology program won first place for Structural Ingenuity for the student designed and built entry, “CANdles of Hope . . . Peace, Love and Faith” at the 2009 CANstruction Design/Build Competition, sponsored by the American Institute of Architects New Orleans Chapter and Second Harvest Food Bank, at an awards ceremony on Oct. 3, 2009, at the Shops at Canal Place in New Orleans. The competition entries were on display at Canal Place through Oct. 11.
Delgado’s winning entry was created as part of a service learning project, which was funded largely by Construction Specification Institute - New Orleans as well as National Association of Women in Construction New Orleans Chapter and 5-Minute Oil Change. Delgado’s CANstruction design team consisted of Architecture/Design Construction Technology students Brenda Chacon, Mario Farciert, Christine Simpkin, Jason Stephen and Valerie Vaughn under the advice of Professor and Program Director P. Victor Mirzai. Students Ashlei Andrews, Travis Banks, Jessica Ferrera, Michelle Saucier and Kyron Thompson also provided assistance with the project
A foundation of the Society for Design Administration, CANstruction® is a design/build competition held in cities throughout North America. Teams of architects, engineers and students mentored by these professionals compete to design and build giant structures made entirely from full cans of food. The results are displayed to the public as magnificent sculpture exhibits in each city where a competition is held. At the close of the exhibitions, all of the canned food used in the structures is donated to local food banks for distribution to emergency feeding programs that include pantries, soup kitchens, elderly and day care centers.
In New Orleans, CANstruction celebrated its 11th anniversary in October 2009 with a gala, competition and exhibit at The Shops at Canal Place. All of the canned goods used were then donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans.
Fifteen teams competed, included a number of corporate New Orleans architectural design and construction entries, Tulane University School of Architecture, and – for the first time – McGhee School and Priestly Charter School. Delgado’s entry consisted of three candles and their holders, representing peace, love and faith, which stood 8 feet tall above a platform representing a feast of hope and healthy living to enjoy with family and friends.
In addition to engaging students in a major community event that provides food for needy families, the CANstruction service learning project allowed students to design a structure on paper, estimate a budget to build the design, and then conduct a fundraising drive to raise the funds. The competition then requires the students to implement their design concept using non-traditional materials, on site, under strict guidelines and within only a few hours. CANstruction is always an exciting and challenging, though fulfilling, experience for the students.
Delgado was the only education institution to receive an award at the 2009 CANstruction competition. Congratulations to Professor Mirzai his students for their exceptional efforts this year, which earned them one of the competition’s top awards. This year marked the fourth time that a Delgado entry has placed in the competition. Past awards have included the Best Meal and Honorable Mention Design awards.
Pictured left to right are: Jason Stephen, Travis Bank, Christine Simpkin, Valerie Vaughn, Brenda Chacon, Mario Farciert and P. Victor Mirzai.