Engineering CANstructs an N64 CANsole

This past Saturday, Waterloo engineers gathered at Conestoga Mall to participate in a modern edition of the Hunger Games. These brave individuals put their reputation to the test with the ultimate challenge: build something exciting out of canned goods in a matter of hours. The structure, an N64 CANsole and controller, proudly displayed the triforce in all its old-school glory with the help of Pepsi Max (for the caffeine-hungry engineering student) in addition to plum tomatoes, pasta sauce, tuna, and hot chicken sauce (for the broke engineering student). The iconic buttons of the popular yellow controller were made with chip bags, the joystick with a larger-than-should-be-humanly-possible can of tuna balanced on a tiny can of cranberry sauce.

After going through a voting period by judges and crowds alike, the scrumptious sculptures will be commended for traits such as “Best Meal,” “Structural Ingenuity,” “Best Use of Labels,” and “Public’s Favourite.” Then, after a week of glorious display in Conestoga Mall, the cans will be taken down and sent to Waterloo Food Bank to help those that need it most.

This stacked team of Waterloo Engineers had humble beginnings, initiated under director Clarisse Schneider. The original plans called for Pokemon balls and the Sydney Opera House but were passed up for the eventual victor, the N64 CANsole. After a couple sketches (which were, to be completely honest, a bit sketchy), over 2000 cans were ordered and the preparation began. Though initially unsure of their ability to do justice to the most revered gaming console in history, our engineers worked hard to make sure that no other structure standing can hold a CANdle to our N64 shrine.

If you’d like to show support and help us achieve at least one major award, go to http://goo.gl/OCyfa and vote for your favourite engineering faculty and favourite gaming console!  You can also vote by filling out a ballot at the CANstruction display in Conestoga Mall.

Most importantly, make sure that you venture to the mall to take a look at amazing feats of engineering and raise awareness for community hunger and the Waterloo Food Bank.