College of the Desert’s Applied Sciences Complex Underway

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Construction of the new Applied Sciences Complex at the College of the Desert–Palm Desert Campus began in February. Designed by Los Angeles-based HGA Architects and Engineers, the project includes construction of a 22,700-square-foot Applied Sciences Building and the renovation of the 2,700-square foot Agricultural Sciences Building.

The two new buildings make up part of the developing Applied Sciences Complex quad, which will consolidate the school’s agriculture, construction science, natural resources, HVAC and horticulture departments currently spread throughout campus.

The new Applied Sciences Building is replacing an existing academic building. It will include four classrooms, a computer aided design (CAD) lab, an HVAC lab, outdoor HVAC and construction technology labs, faculty offices and an outdoor courtyard. The design of the single-story, U-shaped building reflects the rest of the campus’s desert-modern architecture in scale, massing and color.

The building minimizes environmental impact and reliance on public utilities in several ways. The courtyard, for instance, promotes natural ventilation, maximizes daylighting and minimizes energy consumption throughout the building. The building orientation also positions primary fenestrations on the north and south façades to reduce solar gain. Durable exterior materials and finishes withstand the desert sun and high temperatures while interior materials are low maintenance.

“The Applied Sciences Complex promotes hands-on learning and career training through a series of indoor and outdoor learning environments,” said James Matson, AIA, vice president and principal with HGA in Los Angeles, in a statement. “The outdoor horticulture area, for instance, is an active learning lab where horticulture students grow, maintain and study different varieties of agricultural plants. Likewise, the HVAC labs offer students real-world training and technical skills development in mechanical-systems repair and maintenance, preparing them to go directly from the classroom to jobs in the community.”

The renovation of the single-story, concrete-frame Agricultural Sciences Building includes mechanical, electrical and fire/life-safety systems upgrades; interior remodeling of a lab, classrooms, offices, storage room and entry hall; and a new greenhouse and lath house adjacent to the building.

“We are excited about the modernization of classrooms and laboratories,” said John Jaramillo, dean of the School of Applied Sciences and Business at College of the Desert. “Members of our faculty worked closely with HGA in the creation of these new, state-of-the-art labs, which will provide our students with the best possible learning environment.”

The project is being designed to achieve LEED Silver certification and is scheduled for completion in fall 2014. This is the latest project that HGA designed for the College of the Desert. Last summer, the architecture firm completed the design for Phase I of the college’s West Valley Campus.