HOLT CAT posted on September 17, 2026 13:19
Originally posted on KSAT, by Madalynn Lambert
Shoppers at North Star Mall in San Antonio will find an unusual art exhibit over the next two weeks: towering sculptures made entirely from canned food.
Seven teams from the city’s architecture, engineering, and construction community are competing in the 19th annual CANstruction event, turning roughly 30,000 cans into large-scale works of art. This year’s teams are Ford, Powell & Carson; HDR & Joeris; Luna Architecture; RVK Architecture; San Antonio College; Merrick & Co.; and Southwest Research Institute.
The competition is about more than design. When the event wraps up, every can will be donated to the San Antonio Food Bank, and the exhibit is meant to raise awareness of food insecurity across the community.
Molly Padilla of RVK Architecture said she enjoys taking part because the event brings so many people together around a shared cause.
Cindy Delgado, committee chair for the Society for Design Administration, explained that the sheer size of the sculptures helps people visualize how much food the community needs. One structure alone holds about 7,000 cans, which she described as “just the tip of the iceberg.”
Over its 18-year history, organizers say CANstruction has donated more than 600,000 pounds of food to the San Antonio Food Bank. Fundraising has also been an important part of the effort, and participants expressed gratitude to everyone who has contributed.
The sculptures will be on display at North Star Mall through September 26. Visitors can vote for their favorite design by scanning a QR code inside the mall, and San Antonio’s winning team will advance to the International CANstruction Competition.