California State University, San Bernardino, celebrated a major construction milestone as the final structural steel beam was raised into place on the new Student Success Center at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus.
The topping out ceremony marked the completion of the building’s structural frame. It brought the campus one step closer to opening its first state-funded building and first new facility in 16 years.
University administrators, elected officials, community leaders, construction partners, students, faculty, staff and alumni were invited to sign the beam, symbolizing the community’s shared investment in expanding higher education opportunities in the Coachella Valley.
Paz Olivérez, vice president for student affairs, and Tomás D. Morales, president, sign the beam at the topping out ceremony for the new Student Success Center at the CSUSB Palm Desert Campus.
“We know that students’ needs will change over time, and therefore, we have a building which aims to serve them as their needs evolve into the future,” said CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales. “This wonderful campus exists thanks to the passion of the people and leaders of Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley. They have put their hearts, souls and dollars into building the campus that we see all around us.”
The Student Success Center is supported in part by a $79 million state budget allocation approved in 2022, reflecting years of advocacy from regional leaders and community partners.
Scheduled for completion in 2027, the 23,700 assignable-square-foot facility will consolidate and expand student success initiatives and support services.
The building will feature:
- An advising and tutoring center
- A career center
- An expanded campus library and group study spaces
- A cross-cultural center
- Campus bookstore and food services
- A student health center
- Recreation and wellness spaces
These enhancements will provide comprehensive support for students at the Palm Desert Campus and are designed to serve up to 4,000 full-time equivalent students, while offering flexible space as the campus continues to grow.
The project will also free up approximately 10,000 square feet of space in existing campus buildings – including the Mary Stuart Rogers Gateway Building, the Indian Wells Center for Educational Excellence and the Palm Desert Health Sciences Building – allowing those areas to be repurposed for additional academic programs, faculty offices and classroom space.
A rendering of the completed CSUSB Palm Desert Campus Student Success Center.
“Today’s topping out is a celebration of progress, partnership and promise,” said Edna Martinez, associate vice president at the Palm Desert Campus. “Each signature on that beam represents a commitment to the students we serve now and the thousands more who will follow. This center will be a hub for connection, wellness and opportunity, and it underscores our vision to grow this campus in ways that reflect the needs and dreams of our region.”
The CSUSB Palm Desert Campus is dedicated to providing a transformative educational experience in the Coachella Valley. With a focus on academic excellence and community engagement, the campus offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs designed to meet the diverse needs of its students and the region.
