By Ashley Wood/south news editor

Canned goods became sculptures for the Canstruction competition during the State Fair of Texas as TCC entered a replica of the Tarrant County Courthouse, winning the Jurors’ Choice.

Architectural technology coordinator Arnie Radman said TCC students have competed in this event for 13 years.

“The theme was ‘Deep in the heart of Texas,’ so that’s what you see,” he said.

The American Institute of Architects board and South Campus dean of business and technology Mary Ramirez funded the $1,500 to build it, Radman said.

“We knew what the theme was, ‘Deep in the heart of Texas,’ so we thought ‘OK, we need to do something that reflects Fort Worth,’” he said.

BBP Architects came through with some funds and helped with the design work and structure detail, Radman said.

“I said, ‘I think we need to come up with something that is a recognizable icon,’” he said. “The courthouse was the best choice.”

Work was started on the design in August but came to a halt when it was time to find cans, Radman said.

“We always used the Campbell’s soup plant in Paris, Texas,” he said. “All I had to do was call them up and tell them how many cans I needed.”

This year was different. Because of new management, cans were not available from Campbell’s, so they used City Market in Burleson, Radman said.

“Both Dallas and Fort Worth displayed here, and this is the first year they have done it together,” he said. “Otherwise, they have been separate events.”

If they had more money and cans, students would have created an exhibit for the Dallas side as well, Radman said.

The Jurors’ Choice was awarded at a reception Sept. 23.

“The comment I heard was the jurors liked the proportions, and how we used the cans,” he said.

South student Joshua Martin worked on the eight-hour build at Fair Park.

“The courthouse is a great piece of architecture,” he said.

We scrounged around for extra cans, which were used for the grass, sidewalk and roads, Martin said.

“The cans for the TX on the back were scrounged from a big pile of extra cans,” he said.

South student Ocious Chihuri said she liked the creativity of the competition.

“It’s amazing what a bunch of people can do with cans,” she said.

Meeting and competing against architectural firms was a great way to build connections, Chihuri said.

“You can make anything and do anything,” she said. “Don’t be rigid, don’t be boxed and keep an open mind.”

Chihuri said she loved that the cans were going to be donated to the Tarrant Area Food Bank after the competition.

“I know for the Tarrant Area Food Bank right now the big thing is to end hunger in the TCC areas,” she said.

To view the Canstruction sculptures, visit during the State Fair in the Science Building at Fair Park in Dallas.