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College of the Desert Hits Construction Milestone on New Campus

  • By Matt Jones
  • 03/19/26

Key Takeaways

  • College of the Desert has reached a major milestone by topping out its $268 million, 175,000-square-foot Palm Springs Campus, set to open in fall 2027.
  • The new campus will serve as a regional hub for education and workforce training, featuring specialized programs and facilities like digital media, healthcare, culinary arts, and community event spaces.
  • Designed with sustainability in mind, the campus aims for LEED Gold certification and emphasizes economic mobility by aligning education with local workforce and economic development needs.

College of the Desert recently announced that the construction of its new Palm Springs Campus in Palm Springs, Calif., recently reached a major construction milestone, according to a news release. The college is partnering with general contractor C.W. Driver Companies, which recently “topped out” the facility by placing the final beam in its structure. The $268-million campus will cover 175,000 square feet and is intended to provide a central hub for education and workforce training in the Coachella Valley.

“This moment is about far more than steel and structure, it’s about building opportunity,” said Val Martinez Garcia, Superintendent and President of College of the Desert. “The Palm Springs Campus is designed to meet the needs of today’s students and tomorrow’s workforce, connecting education directly to economic mobility and regional growth.”

The campus’ main facility, The Accelerator, will play home to the college’s Digital Media and Arts, Healthcare, and Architecture programs, according to a C.W. Driver news release. Other buildings will include a culinary institute, a multi-venue event center for larger community use, a central utility plant, a multi-modal mobility hub, and a Maintenance and Operations facility.

“This campus represents a new model for how community colleges can serve as engines of economic development,” said Ronald Oden, Board Chair of the Desert Community College District. “We are aligning education with opportunity—ensuring that students are prepared not just for jobs, but for careers that sustain families and strengthen our regional economy.”

The campus is aiming for LEED Gold certification, integrating photovoltaic power generation and sustainable building practices to reduce both cost and its environmental footprint. Completion is scheduled for fall 2027, according to the news release.

About the Author

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

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