Brooklyn, New York, USA
education . immigrants . social justice
Literacy Lounge is America’s first smart library. The walls have embedded sensors that can track student progress and learning by analyzing speech patterns. This space is designed with proven methods to aid underserved children who struggle with literacy.
$195,000 goal
1 sponsors have pledged $25,000
$25,000 – Mutale Nkonde, Analyst, Harvard University
Supports kids like Maria
Maria is a first-generation immigrant in New York. English is her second language and neither of her parents are fluent. Maria’s future depends on her ability to excel in school. New York is full of children like Maria. This makes literacy an important and growing challenge. The Literacy Lounge is a dedicated space designed to help students like Maria who need extra help learning to read, write, and analyze information.
In the heart of Brooklyn
Literacy Lounge will be built on the campus of a local school, the Academy for College Preparation & Career Exploration. Every day, hundreds of students walk through their doors looking for more opportunity. Being located here allows the new learning center to serve the local Black, Latin, and South Asian community.
Ready-to-build design
We’ve worked with the school staff and students from the neighborhood to design a space that meets their needs. Literacy Lounge has groundbreaking technology and tools to support students. Once you fund, we can start building this 900 square foot learning center at the school.
Equipped with game-changing technology
The space will have revolutionary sensor technology embedded in the walls to collect real-time data as kids speak and interact. Algorithms process this and give teachers data on student vocabulary, confidence, and interests — insights they can use to personalize support for kids.
Designed by passionate experts, with students
Danish Kurani
Architect, educator, Kurani founder
Lauren Bordes
Interior designer, professor
Brooklyn students
of diverse abilities, ages, backgrounds
Stimulates local economic development
To give more opportunity to minority-owned businesses in the community, a general contractor from the local area will build the Literacy Lounge.
How funding is used
We strive for radical transparency. Here’s how your contribution, which is tax deductible, will support the creation of Literacy Lounge.
| Construction | 136,800 |
| Technology Integration | 27,700 |
| Furnishings | 30,500 |
| $ 195,000 |
Having this space will make a world of difference for students.
School Principal, Joan Mosely
What’s your legacy
In these trying times with so much uncertainty in the world, everyone must step up. Years from now, you’ll be asked — where were you and how did you help? Use our architectural series to create positive change in the world.