FT. WORTH, TX — VLK Architects CANstruction Fort Worth team received the 2021 Best Overall Design Award, allowing them to qualify and participate in the CANstruction National Competition. Professionals from the architecture, engineering, and construction industries teamed up to participate in this annual event to design and build themed structures built with cans to benefit the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB). The CANstruction Fort Worth association also recognized VLK with a tenure award for 20 years of participation.

Each year features a different theme, and the 2021 idea was "Closing the Book on Hunger". VLK's exhibition was named the "Snitch & Train". It consisted of moments from the Harry Potter series such as Platform 9 ¾ and a Quidditch match, all inside one large Harry Potter book.

"Harry Potter is one of the most decorated novels from the last few decades," said Ryan McAllister, VLK Architects' Fort Worth Team Captain. "We wanted to bring this book to life by transporting fellow wizards into this extraordinary world. These scenes come spilling out of our magical book to show audiences two of our favorite events from the first book and movie."

The VLK Fort Worth Team built the "Snitch & Train" structure with a total of 2,605 cans. It contained various canned foods, such as ranch-style beans, chili beans, garbanzo beans, green beans, diced tomatoes, Italian sauce, peas, Hunt's Manwich Original Sloppy Joe Sauce, and Chef Boyardee's Beefaroni.

The competition had nine team structures with approximately 2,921 cans per structure. Overall, the 2021 CANstruction Fort Worth Competition donated 26,292 cans to the Tarrant Area Food Bank.