For the Record: Stephanie Cramer ’05 created this ode to Troy for her “Extreme Drawing” class.

Fifth-year architecture student Stephanie Cramer didn’t have to look far for inspiration for a project for her Extreme Drawing class.

Cramer created an exhibit featuring the word “TROY” in large red letters on the side of the Record newspaper building. The installation, measuring 25 feet by 9 feet, hung on the eastern façade of the building for a week in May.

“I wanted to do something that would tie together the building, its function, and the city,” Cramer told the Record. “And I wanted to use recyclable and found materials.”

Cramer found her materials on a walk downtown. Stacks of red plastic tubes used for home delivery of the Record were alongside the three-story Record building. On another walk, she found a pile of wooden shipping pallets.

Once the Record building manager was assured the project wouldn’t damage the building, Cramer and several architecture students installed the exhibit from the rooftop.

“It just all came together. The materials I needed were right here. The combination of the letters T-R-O-Y spelled out using elements with the word ‘Record’ seemed like a good way of showing pride in the city. And, you can see it from the Approach up the hill.”

Michael Oatman, clinical assistant professor of architecture, says the goal of Extreme Drawing, which was inspired by the phenomenon of extreme sports, is to expand the territories of drawing. He awarded Cramer an A for the class.

Originally published in Rensselaer Magazine, Summer 2005
Photo by Mike McMahon/The Record

Published July 14, 2005