Gran Kriegel Associates has received a Merit Award from the AIA New York State for its design of the new Lighthouse Charter School, as part of the organization's 2008 Design Awards Program. The AIA New York State has recognized outstanding works of architecture through its Design Awards Program each year since 1968. The program celebrates, honors and promotes excellence in design by New York State architects for their creativity and imagination in solving design problems for their clients and to generate greater public interest in architecture. Designed for Civic Builders in New York City, the K through 12 Lighthouse Charter School serves the Longwood community in the Bronx.  The $15 million project involved the gut renovation of an existing two-story garage as well as a new four-story and cellar addition. Gran Kriegel's design program focused on unifying the irregular building site via a diagonal "Main Street" which ties together the existing and the new building. The new school features a unique colorful facade, which adds to the neighborhood revival. Play space is provided on the roof of the former garage and is accessed from the multipurpose room which serves as dining and assembly space. The long narrow site necessitated interior rooms, with skylights and interior glazing bringing daylight to those parts of the building.