This year, our team joined forces with Perkins Eastman to turn pallets of canned tuna, salmon, and other staples into a glowing Japanese pagoda, inspired by CANstruction 2025’s World Architecture theme. Rising from a shimmering teal “sea” of tuna with salmon walls and golden eaves, the pagoda celebrates both centuries of architectural tradition and the shared meals that sustain our community.
The impact went far beyond the build itself. Together, SK&A and Perkins Eastman exceeded our initial fundraising goal to cover the cost of cans, raising more than $4,100 by mid-November and increasing the target to keep the momentum going. Every contribution—large or small—helped convert a sketch on paper into real support for the Washington, DC region.
Behind the scenes, this build was a masterclass in collaboration: Revit modeling and floor plans, can load testing, carefully planned plywood levels, and a host of details—from corner bells to string lights—came together through thoughtful coordination and a lot of teamwork. Staff from both firms volunteered their time, lent tools, sourced materials, brought accessories, and cheered each other on as the final tiers clicked into place.
To our partners at Perkins Eastman: thank you for dreaming big with us and helping turn design into nourishment. Standing among the myriad structures erected that day, comprised of tens of thousands of cans that will soon become meals, is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when designers, engineers, families, and friends rally around a shared purpose.
