For nearly two decades, the vision of expanding College of the Desert's reach across the Coachella Valley has been in the making. Today, that vision is becoming reality through the development of a new satellite campus designed to increase educational access, create workforce development opportunities, and strengthen the region's economic future.
Designed to expand access to higher education and workforce training, the campus will provide local students with new opportunities to learn, build careers, and strengthen their futures without leaving their community. Even more importantly, College of the Desert's commitment to providing free tuition opportunities for qualifying Coachella Valley residents helps make higher education more attainable for students and families who may have previously seen college as out of reach.
For Baker, this project is about more than constructing buildings, it's about helping create opportunities that will positively impact the region for generations.
Expanding Access, Creating Pathways
The campus will feature:
- Campus Support Building – Administrative offices, support services, and campus infrastructure.
- Accelerator Building – Will house programs in digital media and arts, healthcare, and architecture and technology driven classroom spaces.
- Culinary Building – Professional teaching kitchens and hands-on culinary training facilities.
- Events Center – Ballrooms, commercial kitchen and bar facilities, and hospitality-focused learning spaces.
Students will also benefit from dual-enrollment opportunities, allowing high school students to begin earning college credits earlier and accelerate their educational journey.
A Lasting Impact on the Coachella Valley
The new campus represents a significant investment in the region’s future, helping meet the growing demand for a skilled local workforce. By connecting students to career pathways and workforce training aligned with local industry needs, the campus will support economic growth and educational accessibility across the Coachella Valley.
Its proximity to the airport also creates opportunities to support key industries such as hospitality, tourism, culinary arts, events, and entertainment sectors that are vital to the region’s economy.
One Baker in Action
The project exemplifies the strength of One Baker, bringing together multiple Baker groups to deliver a comprehensive, unified solution:
- Construction
- Controls
- Audio Visual
- Systems Technology Group – Data & Security
- Renewables – Solar PV and BESS
- Transportation
By combining expertise across, Baker is delivering a fully integrated solution through one coordinated team dedicated to client success.
Building More Than Buildings
Baker's scope includes electrical infrastructure and distribution, interior and exterior lighting, equipment connections, audio-visual systems, specialty systems, and renewable energy installation. Baker Renewables is providing the campus solar installation, helping support the project's long-term sustainability goals.
The project is also one of Baker's largest prefabrication efforts to date, demonstrating our commitment to innovation, efficiency, safety, and quality through advanced planning and off-site manufacturing.
With the first building scheduled to open in Fall 2027 and the remaining facilities anticipated to open shortly after, the College of the Desert campus will soon become a hub for education, workforce development, and community growth.
For Baker, this project reflects who we are at our core: a company that invests in people, values partnership, and believes construction can create lasting community impact. Through the strength of One Baker, we're not just helping build a college campus, we're helping build futures.
