Desert CCD – College of the Desert, Student Services Center

The new Cravens Student Services Center is an iconic structure located at the main entrance to campus. It has become a favorite gathering place for students, providing facilities for admissions, registration, financial aid, administration offices, counseling, classrooms, the bookstore and public restrooms. The two-story building is constructed of structural steel with an exterior metal frame, value oriented materials that make a strong architectural statement. It is a LEED Gold building incorporating a range of green design strategies including orientation, lighting, air conditioning controls, recycled materials and photovoltaic panels. Its central location made minimizing disruption to pedestrian and auto traffic during the project challenging. A communications plan between the contractors and University representatives was implemented to facilitate this process.