SAN MARCOS, CA (October 10, 2025) – Palomar College recently celebrated a major construction milestone for its 38,175 square foot permanent building at the education center in Fallbrook with a Topping Off Ceremony and Beam Signing. Over 150 Palomar College and Balfour Beatty employees joined community members and representatives from elected office for the event at 35090 Horse Ranch Creek Road in Fallbrook.
The building is scheduled for completion in early 2027 and features a modern and inviting learning environment that fosters not just academic achievement, but collaboration and social engagement with quiet study areas and comfortable places for students to connect with one another. It will offer a full-service library and house a variety of support services.
Palomar College Governing Board President Jacqueline Kaiser welcomed attendees and Superintendent/President Dr. Star Rivera-Lacey presided over the ceremony. Speaking to the many employees from both Palomar and Balfour Beatty, Dr. Rivera-Lacey stated, “today represents countless hours of planning and the dedication of incredibly talented people and when we open in the spring of 2027, our students and this community will be eternally grateful to all of you.”
Tyler Steele, Balfour Beatty project executive in San Diego, noted, “this milestone is a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of our teammates and local trade partners. Their unwavering commitment to delivering a facility that meets the needs of faculty, staff, students and the broader community is what makes moments like this possible. As one of California’s top education builders, we are honored to continue our long-standing partnership with Palomar College by helping create spaces that inspire learning, connection and growth.”
Palomar College currently serves 29,000 students at its main campus in San Marcos, and three education centers in Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and Fallbrook. All of the education centers offer a comprehensive set of courses, including general education classes, and specific pathways to earn associate degrees and certificates. At the Fallbrook Education Center students are able to pursue the Associate degree for Transfer (AD-T) in both Psychology and Sociology, an Associate degree in Administration of Justice, an Associate degree, Certificate of Achievement Fire Technology – General, a Certificate of Proficiency in EMT-Basic, and the Associate Teacher Certificate of Achievement.
About the Project
Being delivered by Balfour Beatty and designed by HMC Architects, the project scope involves the creation of a new, two-story, 38,175 square foot steel-framed building dedicated to instruction and student support services. The facility will feature five new lecture classrooms, a multi-purpose science lab, a computer lab, a library and spaces for faculty and administration offices. It will also include areas for student services, student life and leadership, a health center, a nutrition center, a bookstore and outdoor student gathering spaces. Additionally, there will be a new central mechanical plant serving the campus, as well as a photovoltaic (PV) system providing solar power to the new facilities. Construction began in January 2025 and is planned to complete in 2027.