The NDSU student chapter of the American Society of Interior Design will participate in the eighth biannual Fargo CANstruction Competition at the West Acres Shopping Center in Fargo.

Design teams compete to build giant structures made entirely of canned foods. The structures become an art exhibit, and are scheduled to be displayed at the shopping center starting Sunday, Oct.22. At the end of the exhibition, the food used in the structures will be donated to the Great Plains Food Bank, which serves North Dakota and Clay County in Minnesota.

The interior design students will compete against seven professional teams. The students will be hidden behind drapery panels on Saturday, Oct. 21 as they use approximately 1,716 cans of food to create a sculpture in the timed competition.

“This is a true collaborative effort across the program,” said Susan Ray-Degges, professor and interior design program coordinator. “CANstruction is one of the largest food drives for the Fargo/Moorhead area, so the support of our colleagues makes this event a success for everyone.”

In past competitions, the NDSU student chapter has been a winner in the “Best Meal,” “Best Use of Labels” and “Structural Integrity” categories.

The idea for CANstruction was developed by a group of New York architects and engineers in 1992. The architects introduced Citywide CANstruction Competitions as a way for the design, engineering and construction industry to assist local charities.

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