When the City of Walnut Creek sought to maintain and strengthen its vital downtown business and retail area, they found a lack of parking as a present problem and a future liability. To satisfy the City’s request for an urban, pedestrian-oriented structure, the design strives to reverse the conventions of traditional parking structures.

There are no sloping elements visible on the exterior facade. The massing of the structure pulls back the top levels to create a smaller scale for the building at the street level. The expression of columns and corner towers gives the building a vertical emphasis. The openings are detailed as windows, rather than gaps between railings, to emphasize the importance of retail. It is the opinion of the City Council, Design Review Commission, and the City of Walnut Creek’s Merchants Association that this design successfully met the City’s challenge and positively enhances the downtown shopping area.