Labyl (Learn About Buildings you Love) is a free award-winning architectural wayfinding app that allows users to explore the built environment in New York simply by taking a photo of the structure. The app is inspired by the Shazam App for music which can recognize songs by listening to the tune. In a similar vein, Labyl identifies buildings when users photograph them. The database includes over 1000 new, old and upcoming structures, in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Users can either use the camera feature or explore buildings around them. Each queried building provides information on the history, the architect and external links to learn about the project in more detail. The app is a simple yet powerful tool for tourists, students, architecture enthusiasts and professionals. Visitors now have a virtual resource that makes sight seeing more immersive. Students and professionals can take advantage of the technical links to zoning and building department web pages to get more detailed information. Users can also add buildings that are not in the database. Labyl strives to become a global app for architectural wayfinding starting with New York. The ultimate goal is to cover every city in the world and make architecture accessible to all.

Labyl is currently available on the App store and will be available for Android devices in July. The app has received the ‘Technological Innovation of the Year Award’ from New York Construction Awards (https://www.newyorkconstructionawards.com/winners) and and an “Award of Excellence” from the Society of American Registered Architects  (https://www.sarany.org/2018-design-awards-winners).