Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

College of the Desert Starts Construction on New Campus Location

  • By Matt Jones
  • 01/09/25

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

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • NWEA Report Recommends K–12 Natural Disaster Recovery Strategies

    The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA), a K–12 assessment and research organization, recently announced the release of a new playbook for schools and communities recovering from extreme weather events, according to a news release.

  • California K–12 District Finishes Renovations on Multi-Sport Stadium

    The Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) in Alameda, Calif., recently announced the completion of a renovation project on the Encinal Jr. & Sr. High School stadium, according to a news release. The district partnered with Quattrocchi Kwok Architects (QKA) and Bothman Construction on the facility, and funding came from Bond Measure B.

  • Massachusetts K–12 District Selects Architect for New Junior High

    Swansea Public Schools in Swansea, Mass., recently announced that it has selected Finegold Alexander Architects to design a new junior high school for the district, according to a news release. The firm will create the Feasibility Study and Schematic Design for Joseph Case Junior High School after a lengthy selection process by the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Digital Edition