Local architects and engineers are teaming up with middle school students in Chattanooga again this Feb. 18  to fight hunger in what has been called “the most unique” food charity in the world.

AIA Chattanooga, the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects, will bring the international event Canstruction and their own UnCANventional Ball to Chattanooga Feb. 18th at Warehouse Row to benefit the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. This is the 1oth year AIA Chattanooga has organized the event, which garners an average of 10,000 pounds of food donations each year for CAFB. 

Six teams of middle-school students and their AIA mentors will construct inventive structures using canned and dry food, all with the theme “AmeriCAN” from 9 a.m.-3 pm. at Warehouse Row. The community is invited to view the process, and there is no charge. The structures will be judged by a jury of design professionals. 

The structures will stay up for viewing for one week. Then they will be dismantled, with all food items going to the CAFB.  

Later that evening, AIA Chattanooga and the Food Bank will celebrate the sculptures with the UnCANventional Ball, held from 7-11 p.m. at Warehouse Row. All ticket sales from the event go to the CAFB. This year's ball will have a decided Mardi Gras flavor, with Hurricanes, beads, and masks featured. Food will be provided by Events with Taste, and music by Flux308. Attire is “casually festive.” 

Tickets for the ball are $41.50 in advance ($45 at the door), and may be purchased at http://www.aiachatt.org/outreach.

This year’s competing Chattanooga Canstruction firms are Advanced Energy Engineering & Design, Inc.; Franklin and Associates; March Adams & Associates, Inc.; Neuhoff Taylor Architects, P.C.; SRR & Associates/Ed Garbee; and River Street Architecture/David Barlew. Participating schools are Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts; Normal Park Middle School; Ooltewah Middle School; Red Bank Middle School; Orchard Knob Middle School; and Tyner Academy. 

Canstruction and UnCANventional sponsors are BI-LO, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the Chattanooga Masonry Association, Collier Construction, Unum, and Key-James Brick. 

For more information about the Canstruction and the UnCANventional Ball, please visit aiachatt.org/outreach.