College of the Desert Starts Construction on New Campus Location

College of the Desert recently announced that it has broken ground on its new Palm Springs campus in Palm Springs, Calif., according to a news release. The multiple-building campus consists of 175,000 square feet of new construction and will cost an estimated $268 million. The college is partnering with builder C.W. Driver Companies for the project’s construction, which is scheduled for completion in 2027.

The campus will span 27 acres. Its primary facility, The Accelerator, will serve students studying digital media and arts, architecture, and healthcare. Amenities in the facility will include technology labs and maker spaces, flexible classrooms, a film-screening studio, radio station, and café. Other campus facilities are set to include a culinary institute featuring specialized, state-of-the-art kitchen labs; an upscale restaurant, and support facilities, the news release reports.

“This project stands out not only for its sustainable design and technologically advanced learning spaces but also for its role in shaping the Coachella Valley as a hub for education, creativity, and community connection,” said Dave Amundson, Project Executive, C.W. Driver. “Our history of building complex higher education facilities in Southern California has prepared us well for this opportunity.”

Finally, the campus will feature an event center for community use, a maintenance and operations facility, a central utility plant, and a campus transportation and mobility hub. The campus is aiming for LEED Gold Certification; sustainability features will include on-site photovoltaic power generation and energy-efficient design, according to the news release.

The college also partnered with WRNS Studio for the project’s design.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • i-PRO, NovoTrax Partner for New School Emergency Response Solution

    i-PRO Americas, Inc., which manufactures edge computing cameras, recently announced a partnership with NovoTrax, provider of end-to-end life safety and mass notification solutions, to address gaps in emergency response workflows at K–12 schools, according to a news release.

  • K–12 Safety Trends Report Reveals Reliance on Training, Technology

    Wearable safety technology provider CENTEGIX recently released its 2025 School Safety Trends Report, according to a news release. The report is based on more than 265,000 incidents during the 2024–25 school year as reported through the CENTEGIX Safety Platform, used by more than 800 school districts across the U.S.

  • School Construction Projects Boom as Education Systems Address Aging Facilities and Growth

    Construction opportunities are almost always abundant, but currently there are more than usual construction projects being launched for public school campuses. Common objectives include major renovation or expansion of aging facilities, total replacement of inefficient classrooms, upgrades to lighting, technology, and security equipment, and adding new sports and cultural facilities.

  • CSU Pueblo Installs Solar-Powered Charging Benches

    Colorado State University Pueblo (CSU Pueblo) recently announced that it has installed four solar-powered charging benches from Bluebolt Outdoor, LLC, according to a news release.

Digital Edition