This year, Hixson took Canstruction to another galaxy with an alien landing built entirely from food: proof that creativity can be both playful and purposeful. Our 2026 structure, Close En‑CAN‑ters of the Pink Swine, was a whimsical nod to Cincinnati’s history as a pork processing center and a reminder that fighting hunger sometimes takes a little imagination… and a lot of cans.

And we do mean a lot of cans. In total, the structure was built from 5,020 cans, including tuna, potatoes, beans, peaches, peas, coconut milk, and even Oregon cherries…all thoughtfully engineered into a truly otherworldly design. Beyond its visual impact, the structure showcased serious problem‑solving and precision, earning Hixson the Structural Ingenuity award at this year’s event. While recognition such as this is gratifying, the real win comes now that the competition has concluded: All cans will be donated to support the Cincinnati Freestore Foodbank and its mission to fight hunger across our region.

Support for projects such as Cincinnati Canstruction is part of Hixson’s commitment to contribute creatively to the communities in which we live and work. To learn more, visit our Community Involvement page.