Building Sculptures to Build Community
Written By: West Texas Food Bank
Date: May 4, 2022
RJ Lopez, AIA, ALEP, is a senior associate and architect in Parkhill's K-12 Practice. He has a personal and professional investment in West Texas Foodbank through volunteer work, Building Community Investment initiatives, and the design and growth of the non-profit's facilities in Midland and Odessa.
RJ Lopez's long journey with the West Texas Food Bank began in 2012 when his architecture firm, Parkhill, held an event called "Canned Tribute" where employees used canned goods to build a sculpture. The cans were then donated to the food bank.
The firm was invited to participate in other capacities with the food bank, and a personal invitation was extended to RJ to join the board of directors. He has served in that role since 2013.
"Our company mission is Building Community," RJ says. With every box that we help stuff or bags for the kids, it all feels very personal and relatable, since it's people in our community that we might see at the grocery store market."
Throughout the pandemic and with the need continuing to rise in the face of inflation, RJ is proud of the food bank and the work that's been accomplished.
"Instead of leaving because of the stress, everybody bonded together and stepped up and said we'd fight this together."
Students involved in Canned Tribute created the design of the can sculpture & were responsible for construction. This sculpture from 2015 is an ice-cream cone.
RJ has been involved with Canned-Tribute since 2012. The design of this can sculpture from 2016 is an Egyptian Sphinx.
West Texas Food Bank is one of Parkhill's Building Community Investment grant recipients.
