Food buildings

From afar, they look like roller coasters, steamrollers, castles and ships. Look closer and you’ll see that the “canstructures” at River Park Square are much more.

Ten local architecture and engineering firms are helping fight hunger with the creations they built with nonperishable food. The teams volunteered hundreds of hours to develop the five designs on display through June 9 and collect the food for their structures.

This year’s entries include: “Canalot,” a dragon-guarded castle; “SpoCANDY Land,” renamed for Spokane neighborhoods; “Filling Spokane’s Hunger Potholes,” featuring a mini pavement roller and construction workers; “Fast Food,” a tribute to the roller coaster that once graced Spokane’s Natatorium Park; and a ship dubbed the “Sink Hunger.”

Stand back and admire the overall effect of the structures. Some look even better from above. But don’t forget to admire the details. For example: you’ll find goldfish swimming along near the “Sink Hunger” and even a periscope constructed from Scope mouthwash.

The carefully stacked and cleverly arranged cans, bags, bottles and boxes will be donated to the Second Harvest food bank once they are “de-canstructed.” Last year, the food bank received about 14,000 pounds of food and about $1,000.

Judges will award the Best Meal, Best Use of Labels, Structural Ingenuity, Spirit of Spokane and Judges’ Favorite in a ceremony at 5 p.m. tonight in the Kress Gallery, on the third floor of River Park Square.

A People’s Choice Award will be given to the “canstructure” that receives the most votes from the public. Go to the concierge desk and cast your vote along with a donation to the Second Harvest food bank.

Volunteers in this year’s competition are from: 3E Design Group, ALSC Architects, Bernardo-Wills Architects, Coffman Engineers, DCI Engineering, Escent, INTEGRUS Architecture, L&S Engineering, Structural Design Northwest and Northwest Architectural Co.