PALM SPRINGS, CA — C.W. Driver Companies, a 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 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, health care, 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 Culinary Institute, which will require the installation of multiple 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 for campus accessibility. The project is designed to achieve LEED Gold Certification through sustainable features such as onsite 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.
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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.
