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!
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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.”
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Until next time, Happy Stalking! 
Stalk It: The Water Garden, from A to Z, is located at 1620 26th Street in Santa Monica.
I think it may also have been used in VEEP in Season 3 ep.4. They are at a “hotel” in California.
I saw previews to this and thought who is that girl???? It’s the HIMYM actress! I plan on giving it a watch.