The logic used here was really quite simple. Early on it was established that the vehicle was built in New York. Then you said: "Yes - a school project!" and "Not a high school" That says it was probably an institution higher than high school, as it is very unlikely that such project would have been undertaken by an elementary school. After I had established my theory, you confirmed that with the exchange: "was it put together by college students" - "Yes it was". The rather crude nature of the vehicle indicated to me that it was more likely to be produced by a technical school, rather than a sophisticated research university such as Columbia, which was mentioned. So my thought was: Where in New York City is a Technical School? My mind immediately jumped to the quite well known (at least in engineering circles) Pratt Institute, which was founded as a two year technical school before becoming a four year university (and later closing its Engineering Department). I almost ruled out Pratt out, as it was/is specifically located in Brooklyn, rather than New York City in general, but I decided to submit my theory when I discovered that a former elevated train line ran right through the Pratt Institute. So yes, it was a guess, albeit a one formed by logically fitting together various bits of established fact.
