2026 Canstruction® Northern Virginia has officially kicked off and registration is now open!

We recently held our 2026 Canstruction® Interest Meeting where we reviewed this year’s program partners including Capital Area Food Bank and Fashion Centre at Pentagon City, discussed how to navigate the step-by-step process of Canstruction® now through Build Night and De-Canstruction®, and answered  outstanding questions from prospective teams.  We also had current 2026 Community Service / Canstruction® Committee Members share anecdotes and lessons learned from their own experiences with Canstruction®!

If you were unable to attend the 2026 Interest Meeting, you can view the recording on AIA Northern Virginia’s YouTube Channel.

For additional information about the step-by-step process and the 2026 Rules and Regulations, please review the 2026 Canstruction® Northern Virginia Handbook.

For inspiration from last year’s teams, check out our 2025 Canstruction® Northern Virginia Recap blog.

Registration is Now Open! 

This year we are offering an Early Bird Registration option at a discounted cost of $150.00 compared to the standard $200.00 registration fee!  Also, teams that register by the Early Bird deadline will be able to get a head start on fundraising!  The deadline for Early Bird Registration is right around the corner on Wednesday, April 8!  If your team needs a little bit more time to get organized,  no worries,  the Final Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 6.

The order in which teams register determines the order in which teams select their build location within the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City.  Please note that due to space limitations, we can accommodate a maximum of 10 teams.

Why Participate in Canstruction®?

Here are a few reasons why participating in Canstruction® is so rewarding:  

1. Make a Meaningful Impact on Hunger
Canstruction® directly supports your neighbors!  All canned goods purchased to build each sculpture go directly to a local food bank.

2. Strengthen Team Collaboration & Support Company Morale
Encouraging members of your staff to take a pause and participate in this fun, social activity can help your firm demonstrate its support and commitment to its employees and the local community.  Designing and building CanArt® is a great team-building exercise which can cultivate cross-discipline connections, reinforce a community-minded company culture, as well as improve planning, coordination, and problem-solving skills.

3. Build Professional Visibility & Promote Social Responsibility
Participating in this playful, low stakes but highly visible competition gives your firm a chance to display its creativity, resourcefulness, and commitment to the community.

Other Ways to Get Involved

There are several ways to participate in the event even if you are not on a team. Leading up to Build Night on Friday, Sept. 11 we will have a volunteer sign-up sheet which will include options for supporting in the following ways:

1. Helping at the start of Build Night
2. Helping build the AIA Northern Virginia Chapter sculpture* on Build Night
3. Helping break down sculptures during DeCanstruction®

If you are interested in volunteering during the event, email Bronwyn – 2026 Community Service Committee Chair – at [email protected] with your interest/ availability.

*Please note that the committee will announce if it will be constructing a chapter sculpture following the final registration deadline.  We would like to give as many teams as possible the opportunity to participate.

Whether you are new or returning to Canstruction® Northern Virginia, now is the time to rally your team, showcase your creativity, and make a meaningful difference—one can at a time. We can’t wait to see you there!