Architecture students build Colosseum to fight hunger
Palm Beach State College architecture students worked late Sunday night building a Colosseum sculpture to help put food on the tables of families in need.
Using non-perishable food and their computer model, the students completed the project at The Gardens Mall for Canstruction 2015, an international charity of the design and construction industry that locally benefits the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
The sculpture will be on display today through June 21 along with those of five other teams participating in this year’s event themed “CANnes International Film Festival.” They are: Hedrick Brothers; Kast Construction & Currie Sowards Aguila Architects; Leo A Daly & The Weitz Company; Roger Dean Stadium & VSP Marketing Graphic Group, and Suffolk Construction.
After the mall closed at 6 p.m. the teams went to work on their projects, which are set up in various locations. “It was a really cool experience,’’ said Nicole Franzese, one of seven students on the PBSC team guided by architecture Professor Dharmesh Patel. “I think it’s a great opportunity for students to get involved with this kind of fundraising event. It also brings out your inner design from being an architect student.”
Franzese said the team chose the Colosseum, famously known as the Flavian Amphitheater with 100 days of games, because they wanted to portray the message of fighting against and winning world hunger.
“It’s such an honor to be a part of this program. It’s for a good cause,’’ added student Jeremy Chen. “We’re the only team that represents a school because the other teams represent construction companies and architecture companies. It’s kind of like a privilege for us to be a part of Canstruction.”
The teams are competing for various awards, including the Best Meal, which will be announced June 18 during the Canstruction Cocktail and Awards Ceremony. The event also will honor event chairmen, host committee members, sponsors and participating teams. Tickets are $75 for the public and $150 for the host committee. The public can view the exhibit for free, however, and vote for their favorite on Instagram.
This is Palm Beach State College’s third year participating in Canstruction. Last year the PBSC team won a “Best Meal” award and tied with another team for “The Most Needed Food Items” award for their sculpture of the United States and two of the nation’s famous bridges.
Canstruction is sponsored by Bank of America, The Gardens Mall, Steve and Louise Machtt and Cheney Brothers, Inc. All funds donated from the party and the food used to create the sculptures will be donated to the Palm Beach County Food Bank, which distributes food to more than 105 agencies on the front line of hunger relief, serving 200,000 residents. Canstruction will culminate at Strike Out Hunger Night June 27 at Roger Dean Stadium. Anyone who donates non-perishable food from June 8-26 at Bank of America’s Jupiter locations in Abacoa Banking Center and Chasewood Plaza or at Roger Dean Stadium will receive a voucher to Strike Out Hunger Game Night.
Last year, 33,000 pounds of food were collected through Canstruction. For more information about the event, visit www.pbcfoodbank.org.
