WhiteSpace Architects Wins “Best Original Design” at AIA Honolulu’s 2025 Canstruction® Competition
This year marked a milestone for AIA Honolulu’s Canstruction® Competition: 20 years of creativity, community, and compassion. The 2025 theme, “It’s A CANniversary ExtravaCANza!”, invited design teams to celebrate this two-decade tradition by dreaming big with vacation-inspired sculptures built entirely from canned food.
Hosted annually in partnership with Hawai‘i Foodbank, Canstruction® Honolulu unites architects, builders, engineers, and designers to turn everyday canned goods into large-scale works of art. Each structure, some made from as many as 13,000 cans, is meticulously designed and constructed with labels as the “color palette.” When the exhibition ends, every can is donated to Hawai‘i Foodbank, ensuring that the creativity poured into each build translates directly into meals for families across Hawai‘i.
Since its inception, Canstruction® Honolulu has donated more than 760,000 pounds of food — over 660,000 meals — along with $128,000 in financial support to fight hunger in our state. The impact is profound, especially as 1 in 6 people and 1 in 4 children in Hawai‘i face food insecurity.
WhiteSpace Architects’ 2025 Submission: Beat of Unity
This year, WhiteSpace Architects teamed up with Albert C. Kobayashi General Contractor (ACK) to create Beat of Unity. The result won Best Original Design at Canstruction® Honolulu 2025.
Our design centered on a drum, a universal symbol of rhythm, celebration, and connection across cultures. The drum’s steady beat represents both a call to joy and a call to care, echoing the heart of Canstruction’s mission: to nourish community through compassion and generosity.
Perched atop the drum is a vibrant Hawaiian bird, symbolizing presence, grace, and the importance of being seen and heard. Just as each can contributes to the integrity of the sculpture, each person contributes to the strength of our community. Together, the bird and drum remind us that when we act in unity, we create a rhythm of kindness that reverberates far beyond the build itself.
WhiteSpace Architects Canstruction Timelapse
More Than a Build: A Commitment to Community
For our team, Canstruction® was not just about artistic expression. It was about collaboration, teamwork, and giving back. Partnering with ACK allowed us to merge talents, creativity, and engineering expertise to build something greater than the sum of its parts.
Most importantly, every can from Beat of Unity (along with every other structure in this year’s competition) was donated to Hawai‘i Foodbank. These donations directly support families in need, reinforcing the belief that design has the power to uplift and transform lives.
We are proud to celebrate 20 years of Canstruction® in Honolulu and grateful to be part of a tradition that uses design for good. Mahalo to AIA Honolulu, Hawai‘i Foodbank, and our partners at Albert C. Kobayashi General Contractor for making this year’s “CANniversary ExtravaCANza!” a success.
What is Canstruction®?
Canstruction® is a national community service program created by the Society for Design Administration (SDA) and hosted in cities across North America. The event is more than an architectural challenge; it’s a design/build competition that blends innovation with philanthropy. Teams are restricted to using canned and non-perishable goods, along with simple materials like cardboard, tape, and wire for stabilization. The result? Structurally sound, visually striking sculptures that embody the power of design to make a difference.
By showcasing the creativity of the design and construction industry, Canstruction® raises awareness of food insecurity while directly supporting local food banks. In Honolulu, the partnership with AIA Honolulu and Hawai‘i Foodbank ensures that every entry is both a work of art and a contribution to a cause.
