State-of-the-art campus will transform education and community engagement in the Coachella Valley
PALM SPRINGS, Calif – December 19, 2024 – C.W. Driver Companies, a leading builder in California since 1919, has broken ground on the new College of the Desert (COD) Palm Springs campus. The $268 million, 175,000-square-foot project will provide cutting-edge facilities for learning, collaboration, and innovation, while setting new standards for sustainability and community development in the Coachella Valley.
The multiple building campus, spread across 27 acres, represents a complex construction endeavor that will redefine educational infrastructure while supporting economic growth in the region. The primary structure, The Accelerator, will be a two-story building offering spaces for programs in Digital Media and Arts, Healthcare, and Architecture. C.W. Driver will manage the precise integration of advanced technology labs, maker spaces, flexible classrooms, and specialized facilities such as a film screening studio, radio station and cafe. Additional campus structures include a world-class Culinary Institute, which will require the installation of multiple state-of-the-art kitchen laboratories, a boutique restaurant, and support facilities.
Additionally, the development features a multi-venue Event Center for community and academic use, a central utility plant, a Maintenance and Operations facility, and a multi-modal transportation and mobility hub to ensure seamless campus accessibility. The project is designed to achieve LEED® Gold Certification through sustainable features such as on-site photovoltaic power generation and energy-efficient design elements.
“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.”
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the COD Palm Springs campus is poised to become a landmark for higher education and community engagement in the region.
This project is a collaboration between C.W. Driver Companies and architect WRNS Studio.
Other notable higher education projects by C.W. Driver Companies include the CSU Dominguez Hills – Center for Science & Innovation and Innovation & Instruction Building, CSU San Bernardino – Coyote Village and Coyote Commons; UC Santa Barbara Interactive Learning Pavilion, Pomona-Pitzer’s Rains Athletic Center; Long Beach City College – Multi-Disciplinary Facility Replacement, Chapman University’s Keck Center for Science and Engineering; Cal Poly Pomona’s Student Services Building; Vanguard University’s Waugh Student Center and the recent triple groundbreaking at CSU Dominguez Hills for the Student Housing & Dining Commons, Health, Wellness, and Recreation Center and Switchyard and Infrastructure Upgrade.
About C.W. Driver Companies
C.W. Driver Companies is a premier builder serving California since 1919. In 2019, the historic company proudly celebrated its 100-year anniversary. As a leader in general contracting and construction management services, C.W. Driver Companies are on the cutting edge across a broad spectrum of industries, including education, commercial/office, technology, healthcare/biomedical, mixed-use, assisted living, entertainment, retail, industrial and civic. Ranked in Engineering News Record’s Top 150 General Contractors and Top 100 Construction Managers, C.W. Driver Companies has the ability to build a variety of projects, from large tenant improvements to small renovations and specialized projects through its affiliates Driver SPG and Good & Roberts. C.W. Driver Companies has offices located in Los Angeles, Rancho Cucamonga, Anaheim, San Diego and Carlsbad. For more information, please visit www.cwdriver.com. Follow C.W. Driver Companies on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
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