Bridgewater Commons Unveils the Designs for Canstruction Competition

BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP, N.J. (September 8, 2026) — Bridgewater Commons’ Center Court will soon be home to an 18-foot-tall rocket ship, a replica of the Navesink Twin Lights, a hot air balloon and a tribute to gathering at Grandma’s — masterpieces with a mission to combat food insecurity, constructed from 10,000 cans of Goya Foods goods as the shopping center unveiled the plans for its inaugural Canstruction® competition, presented by Messer. 

From September 15 to 22, Bridgewater Commons will bring together members of the New Jersey business and academic communities for a week-long display combining art, friendly competition, and community impact. Guests can view the structures in Center Court and vote for their favorite before the canned goods, donated by Goya Foods, are provided to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County. The winning design will be announced at a 5:30 p.m. public ceremony on September 22 in Center Court.

“The renderings are remarkable, but the sheer scale, artistry and creativity of these sculptures truly have to be experienced in person to be fully appreciated,” said Tom Kovacic, Marketing and Business Development Director of Bridgewater Commons. “Even more meaningful, however, are the messages they convey — that when community, commerce and academia come together, they can spark beauty and innovation in ways that ultimately make a meaningful difference for those in need.”

The entries are: 

• Bridgewater-based Messer’s “Launching Hope,” an approximately 10 feet tall by 8 feet wide rocket ship that is a tribute to the fact that great technologies — and great missions — begin with the right fuel. Inspired by the critical gases that help propel spacecraft through the cosmos, the rocket will celebrate what can be achieved when engineering, innovation, and generosity come together.
• Somerville-based SSP Architects’ replica of one of New Jersey’s most iconic architectural landmarks, the Navesink Twin Lights, featuring the lighthouse’s distinctive square and octagonal towers. 
• Branchburg-based Paramount Facility Management Solutions’ “Meals in Flight,” paying tribute to how community can lift lives with a 7-foot-tall hot air balloon. 
• Los Piratas (The Pirates), Seton Hall University’s Joseph A. Unanue Latino Institute’s concept, celebrates Hispanic heritage, family and the shared tradition of gathering around meals with “Abuela’s {Grandma’s} Pantry,” a colorful pathway leading to a communal table. 

Following the competition, the sculptures will be disassembled and donated to the Food Bank Network of Somerset County, which since 1982 has responded to the needs of the food insecure of the county. The network now has nine pantries around the county, as well as programs that include stuffed backpacks to ensure children have enough to eat on weekends and school holidays. Ten thousand cans can provide feed approximately 500 families for a month, the Food Bank noted.

Located along Interstate 287 at the intersections of Route 22 and Route 202/206, the 1.1 million-square-foot Bridgewater Commons is Somerset County’s largest shopping, dining and entertainment destination.

For more information on this event, visit www.bridgewatercommons.com. 

About Bridgewater Commons

Bridgewater Commons is one of Central New Jersey’s premier shopping destinations, located in a vibrant suburb in proximity to New York City. The 1.15 million-square-foot shopping center features a mix of premier retailers and restaurants with wide consumer appeal. Over 130 brands call Bridgewater Commons home, from well-known national retailers and restaurants such as Anthropologie, Alo Yoga, Apple, Kendra Scott, lululemon athletica, Popmart, Williams-Sonoma, Seasons 52 and Fogo de Chão, alongside popular local shops like Athletifreak and Zuted Vintage. In 2023, Bridgewater Commons celebrated its 35th anniversary and is owned by Pacific Retail Capital Partners, one of the nation’s premier owners and operators of retail real estate. For more information on the property, please visit bridgewatercommons.com or follow on social media: Facebook @BridgewaterCommons and Instagram: 

shopbridgewatercommons. 

About Pacific Retail Capital Partners
Pacific Retail Capital Partners (PRCP) is one of the nation’s premier retail operating groups of large open- air and enclosed shopping centers, with more than $3.0 billion in assets under management across the United States. Based in Southern California, the company’s portfolio totals 24 properties encompassing over 20 million square feet. With a highly experienced team that has a proven track record of generating value its stakeholders, PRCP is dedicated to evolving real estate for the next generation by working with the communities it serves to design master plans that transform its assets into high-performing mixed-use destinations. The vertically-integrated company provides end-to-end sourcing, assessment, underwriting, valuing, developing, marketing, design and asset management services. To learn more visit pacificretail.com or follow on social media at: Facebook: @PacificRetailCapitalPartners and Instagram: @PacificRetail. 

About Messer

Messer is the largest privately held industrial gas business in the world and a leading industrial and medical gas company in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. Messer offers more than 125 years of expertise in industrial, medical, specialty and electronics gases. The company delivers quality gases, related services and technology via an extensive production and distribution network. Health and safety, sustainability practices and environmental protection are core Messer values that are embedded in the company’s daily operations. 

Messer Americas sales account approximately for 52% of Messer worldwide sales of over $5 billion USD. For more information, visit: www.messeramericas.com 

About Goya Foods

Founded in 1936, Goya Foods, Inc. is America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company and a leader in Latin American food and condiments. In 2026, Goya proudly celebrates its 90th anniversary, marking nine decades of delivering authentic flavors and quality to consumers nationwide. Goya manufactures, packages, and distributes over 2,500 high-quality food products from Spain, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central, and South America. Rooted in the culinary traditions of Hispanic communities around the world, Goya products combine authentic ingredients, robust seasonings, and convenient preparation to suit every taste and every table. For more information, please visit Goya.com and GoyaGives.com