The Water Garden from “A to Z”

During my recent viewing of A to Z’s digital preview (which you can watch here – I’ve now seen it twice!), I recognized a location featured in it – The Water Garden in Santa Monica.  The Grim Cheaper used to live close to the office complex and I had driven by it countless times over the years.  I had never ventured onto the property for a closer look, though, so I decided to amend that while in the area last week.  And I was shocked at what I discovered!

While the exterior of The Water Garden (pictured below) is pretty, the interior grounds, which are not visible from the street, are absolutely breathtaking!  I cannot even imagine having an office there!  What an idyllic place to work!

The Water Garden complex is much larger than it appears to be from the street.  The 17-acre property, which takes up an entire city block, is comprised of eight buildings (six 6-story structures and two 5-story structures) that total a whopping 1.27-million square feet of office space.

The eight buildings surround a massive waterway that meanders throughout the grounds, complete with geysers, fountains and bridges.  Like I said, it is breathtaking.

The complex also features lush landscaping with rambling, trellised pathways that make the property look more like a public park than an office facility.  What I wouldn'”‘”‘t give to work there!

On A to Z, The Water Garden is where both Andrew (Ben Feldman) and Zelda (Cristin Milioti) work – Ben at a matchmaking company named Wallflower and Zelda at a law firm.

The complex was used extensively throughout the pilot episode.

Some of The Water Garden’s interior space was also utilized in the pilot – as both the interior of the Wallflower offices . . .

. . . and Zelda’s law firm.  I am guessing that will not be a regular practice, though, and that a set of both office interiors will be built on a soundstage for all subsequent filming.

The Water Garden also made an appearance in the Season 3 episode of CSI: Miami titled “Recoil,” in which it stood in for the Biscayne Courthouse where Horatio Caine (David Caruso) and the gang investigated a shooting.

Oddly, while an image of The Water Garden was used in an establishing shot of the Biscayne Courthouse in the Season 6 episode of CSI: Miami titled “Inside Out” . . .

. . . actual filming took place elsewhere.

The Water Garden also served as the San Francisco headquarters of Gryzzl in the Season 6 episode of Parks and Recreation titled “Moving Up.”

For more stalking fun, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Los Angeles magazine online.  And you can check out my other blog, The Well-Heeled Diabetic, here.

Until next time, Happy Stalking!

Stalk It: The Water Garden, from A to Z, is located at 1620 26th Street in Santa Monica.

‘