CANstruction 2009 TCC Engineering Club “Stop Hunger In Its Tracks” TCC’s entry features a train coming out of a tunnel that is being stopped by a crossing gate. The massive tunnel features 5-foot opening with a self-supporting keyed arch – a challenging engineering structure to build. The display also includes a motion sensor so that when visitors walk in front of the display, the crossing lights and the train’s headlight turn on and a sound recording of a train whistle and a crossing bell are played. (And, yes, we do know that crossing gates usually stop vehicles, not trains, but we like the way it looks!)	CANstruction is a design/build competition where engineering and architecture firms (and student groups) build huge creative structures out of canned food items. The structures are on display for couple of weeks and then the food is donated to the local food bank. CANstruction takes place in about 100 cities worldwide and has taken place in Hampton Roads for the last 12 years. This is the 11^th year in which the TCC Engineering Club has competed. Our team is generously supported by Farm Fresh. Click here to check out the list of food items that we used.	Come and see the CANstructures! The CANstructures will be on display at the Selden Arcade in downtown Norfolk until Monday, November 23. Stop by to see TCC’s structure and the other 10 structures if you can! Our display uses an impressive 11,236 cans of food and weighs 9,900 lb (4.95 tons)! Click here for the Address and hours for the Selden Arcade
Our entry was featured in the 12-7-09 edition of Inside Business. View the article.		Click here for a video of our crossing lights! (You can hear the train whistle, but the crossing bell gets a bit lost in the background mall music. How does it work? Click here to view the circuit schematic and a copy of the program.

TCC Team Photos from the Selden Arcade - Click on thumbnail for larger image

Getting ready to start	Building the arch	Finishing the arch	Removing the form	Inside the tunnel
Building the train	Final details	Team Photo #1	Team Photo #2	TCC’s Sign (each team is provided with a sign)
Left View	Front View	Right View	Back View	TCC entry with official sign

Photos of Other Teams at the Selden Arcade - Click on thumbnail for larger image

HBA Architecture & Interior Design, Inc. – “The Three Faces of Hunger; One Can”	Hanbury Evans Wright Vladas + Co – “Caution. CANstruction Ahead”	Clark Nexsen – “We Are The World, CANstruct a World Without Hunger” Award: Best Use of Labels	AECOM, Virginia Beach – “Hunger’s Not Welcome in Munch-CAN-Land!” Award: Best Meal
ODU Chapter of the American Society for Mechanical Engineers – “Tackling Hunger” – A model of ODU’s Foreman Field Award: Honorable Mention	Hampton University Department of Architecture – “Going Green with the Guggenheim”	Ghent School – “Deleting Hunger 1 Can @ a Time”	Paul Finch & Associates, P.C. – “Hungry, Hungry Hammerhead” Award: Structural Ingenuity
Burgess & Niple – “Jack CAN the Beanstalk” (Precariously leaning!)	Retnauer Design Associates, P.C. “Breaking News: Hunger CAN Be Defeated” – This IPOD was originally standing, but fell and was rebuilt on the floor.	TCC Engineering Club – “Stop Hunger In Its Tracks” Award: Juror’s Favorite Award: Most Cans

Photos from the “Practice Build” in the ATC - Click on thumbnail for larger image

Getting started in the ATC	Wooden form used to support the arch	The arch is done and we are ready to remove the wooden support.	Crossing gate
After 3 weeks – almost done!	View from the ATC atrium	Hundreds of boxes everywhere!	Plans for our design

Hampton Road CANstruction website
National CANstruction website
Farm Fresh – our sponsor!

Southeastern Food Bank of VA – all of our canned food items are donated here after the competition!

Contact Paul Gordy, TCC Engineering Program Head, at PGordy@tcc.edu for more information.