Indio Campus Expansion Slated for 2024 Opening

College of the Desert and community leaders gathered on March 14 to break ground on an Indio campus construction project that will allow for more than double the current enrollment when it is ready for occupancy in 2024.

“This expansion is a major accomplishment for College of the Desert, the City of Indio and the entire Coachella Valley, which will benefit from the additional educational opportunities provided here,” said Superintendent/President Martha Garcia, Ed.D. “We are grateful to the community for supporting the bond funding that turned this vision into reality.”

A new, three-story instructional building will accommodate growing student demand in the eastern Coachella Valley. The 67,000-gross-square-foot expansion will feature classrooms, a café, offices, science labs, a student success services center, open study and collaboration areas, and a pavilion connecting it to the existing campus building. 

Construction is expected to be complete in Fall 2023. The space will be fully operational in Spring 2024 and accommodate an additional 5,000 students. 

College of the Desert will also construct a Child Development Center on recently acquired property across the street from the Indio campus. The new building will include toddler and preschool classrooms, an outdoor play yard and shade structures, as well as observation and support spaces required for a modern facility. Construction on the Child Development Center will be completed in Summer 2023.

The existing instructional facility on campus is also slated for a remodel and infrastructure upgrades that will be finished and ready for occupancy in Fall 2024. 

There are 1,322 current enrollments at the Indio campus as of the Spring 2021 census. The original $24M campus was completed in 2014 with Measure B bond funding approved by voters. The construction budget breakdown for the new facilities, paid for with Measure CC bond funds approved by voters in 2016, is: expansion and remodel, $67.5 million; Child Development Center, $22.1 million.

The Indio campus is located at 45524 Oasis Street. For additional information, please visit collegeofthedesert.edu.

Board of Trustees at the Indio Campus extension ground breaking
Rep from Congressman Office, Dr Garcia, Board of Trustees President and Mayor Waymond Fermon