The Waymark | Walnut Creek, CA

Between the Walnut Creek BART Station and the city's downtown core lay a site with an important job: shaping the first impression for everyone arriving by train. For Blake|Griggs Properties, the opportunity was to answer the region's call for sustainable, transit-oriented growth with homes placed steps from regional transit.

The program was ambitious: a mixed-use, multi-purpose development of 358 residential units, a full range of common area amenities and ground floor retail, delivered in Type VA and IA construction. The challenge was to bring that varied programming together so it read as one place rather than a collection of parts, while giving the street and the station approach the welcome they deserved. BDE Architecture worked alongside the client to organize the project around an active street level, a central paseo, public plazas and attractive ground floor green-scaping.

Completed in 2023, The Waymark now serves as a prominent gateway to downtown from the BART station. Residents enjoy their homes and shared amenities, while neighbors and visitors gain a well-defined public realm with a cohesive sense of place, a major step toward the transit-oriented future the city envisioned.

Address: 101 Pringle Avenue, Walnut Creek, CA, 94596

Client: Blake|Griggs Properties

Number of Units: 358

Construction Type: VA / IA

Year Completed: 2023

Photography: Steven Magner (interior)

Front view of the white modern building labeled 'The Waymark,' with black framed glass windows, a red and white clock at the top, and entrance with glass doors. The sky is clear and blue.
Aerial view of a modern white commercial building named The Waymark with a clock on top, surrounded by streets, parking lot, and nearby buildings, with trees and hills in the background.
Aerial view of a modern rooftop urban space with seating areas, greenery, and a clock tower on a building labeled 'The Waymark'
Aerial view of a modern multi-story building with retail shops on the ground floor, surrounded by streets, parking lot, and greenery, with hills and trees in the background.
Aerial view of modern white and gray commercial buildings with rooftop terraces, surrounded by roads, trees, and hills on a clear day.
A colorful city street corner with a intersection and crosswalks, featuring modern multi-story buildings. There are street signs, traffic lights, and decorative balloon sculptures in the foreground, with a clear blue sky and some clouds overhead.
Modern multi-story apartment buildings with large windows, situated along a curved street with a red brick pedestrian walk and green landscaping.
Modern multi-story apartment buildings with brick and white facades, surrounded by landscaped greenery, with stairs and pathways leading to entrances on a sunny day.
Exterior view of a modern multi-story residential building with a brick and blue siding facade. The ground level has a leasing office entrance with signs and decorations outside. The street in front has a pedestrian crossing sign and some trees and s
Modern mixed-use building with retail spaces on the ground floor and residential apartments above. The entrance is accessed by colorful, decorative stairs with a patterned design. Visible signage for parking, retail, and the building name 'The Waymar
A modern mixed-use building with brick and siding exterior, featuring retail space on the ground floor and residential units above. There is a colorful mural on the steps leading to the entrance and a sign reading 'The Waymark' above the shop entranc
Rooftop patio with outdoor furniture, including couches and ottomans, decorative plants, umbrellas, string lights, and a cityscape with hills in the distance under a partly cloudy sky.
Outdoor rooftop terrace with white chairs, potted plants, and a large screen displaying a sunset over mountains.
Rooftop patio with string lights, trees, outdoor furniture, and mountain view in the background.
Outdoor swimming pool area with lounge chairs, umbrellas, and a modern apartment building in the background under a partly cloudy sky.
Modern lobby with black-framed glass walls, brown and black seating, and a sign that says VATNUT CREEK and THE WAYMARK.
Modern hotel lobby with a reception desk, decorative plants, and a sign reading 'Welcome to the Waymark' behind glass doors.
Modern hotel lobby with large windows, wooden ceiling, pillars, relaxing seating, a patterned rug, and a person walking by.
Modern hotel lobby with leather armchairs and a black marble coffee table, a woman sitting and reading, large windows with black frames, a decorative chandelier with multiple round bulbs, and a large mirror reflecting the room.
Modern kitchen with beige cabinetry, a large stone island, hanging pendant lights, and a dining area near large windows with outdoor views.
Modern lobby or lounge area with a large patterned rug, brown leather sectional sofa, accent chairs, a coffee table, and a wall mural of a wolf with a red stripe across its eyes. There are large windows, wooden ceiling, and various lighting fixtures.