Located in the thriving Rockridge community, this 45,000 SF grocery store, adjoining retail space, and public plaza helped to revitalize the popular College Avenue retail corridor. 

Lowney Architecture not only designed this Safeway as the anchor for the retail development, but acted as the primary negotiator and community liaison for the project as well. We worked hand-in-hand with Safeway, residents, and Oakland City Council to negotiate the design, ensuring that each party’s interests were upheld throughout the project’s life cycle. 

In order to achieve the required ground floor grocery footprint, parking was provided on the rooftop level, lowering the required overall height of the project. This also helped to provide additional retail frontage on College Avenue, boosting the economic fabric of the neighborhood. The plan incorporates a vibrant pedestrian walkway, lined with shops, landscaping, and a central public plaza which is active day and night.