It’s that time of year again: Canstruction is upon us! This past Saturday, October 5, teams gathered to stack cans of food into fun, recognizable designs, which are judged and voted on before the cans are all donated to Merrimack Valley Food Bank.
This year’s Canstruction design theme was ICONS, meant to be interpreted liberally for maximum creativity. The Nitsch team chose to build the heroic plumber Mario, recognizable from video games like Super Mario and Smash Bros, out of 3,258 cans of tuna, beans and chickpeas, and vegetables.
Team captains Ryan Gordon, PE, ENV SP, LEED Green Associate, and Catie Coumounduros, EIT, described Nitsch’s take on Mario:
“With his signature blue overalls, red cap, and mustache, Super Mario is an iconic video game character introduced by Nintendo in 1981. This cheery Italian plumber is known for his positive and can-do attitude with a mission to rescue Princess Peach from the villainous Bowser. Navigating through various game levels filled with obstacles and power-ups, Mario is celebrated for his bravery, determination, and unwavering optimism. Over the years, he has appeared in numerous games, spanning genres from platformers to racing and sports, making him a versatile and enduring character in gaming history. Mario’s charm and heroic deeds make him a cultural icon worldwide. Mario’s determination is a great reminder of the determination of Canstruction Boston to fight food insecurity by donating cans and raising awareness.”
Check out the time-lapse video of our build:
This year, our design was helped especially by the technical skills of Mengyao Li, AICP, who used her experience with laser cutting to facilitate precision-cut stabilizing layers – plus, she made cute little bonus ornaments for all the team members!
This year’s Canstruction Boston sculptures can be viewed in person at 280 and 290 Congress Street (Atlantic Wharf) in Boston, MA through October 25 – be sure to check them out!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to vote HERE for your favorite design (especially if it’s Mario) – all votes must be received by noon on Tuesday, October 15.
Thank you to our team who designed and built this super Mario!
- Catie Coumounduros, EIT (Team captain)
- Ryan Gordon, PE, ENV SP, LEED Green Associate (Team captain)
- Addie Turner
- Adina Alpert, PE
- Brittney Ferber, PE
- Chelsea Christenson, PE, LEED AP BD+C (and daughter Savannah!)
- Chris Hodney, PE
- Coleman Horsley, PE
- David Perloff, PE
- Jonathan Hedlund, PE
- Kathryn Piasecki, AICP, EIT
- Marcel Fuks, EIT
- Marissa Valentino, PE, CFM
- Marley Peterson, EIT
- Mengyao Li, AICP
- Michelle Callahan, PE, LEED AP BD+C (and daughter Ceci!)
- Nicholas Botts, PE
- Paige Blanchard, PE
- Sarah Kwatinetz, EIT
- Steve Ventresca, PE, LEED AP BD+C
- William des Bordes
- William Maher, PE, LSIT
