Thanks to the efforts of California Senator Scott Wilk and Assemblywoman Christy Smith, College of the Canyons received $397,000 in state funding necessary to begin planning much-needed renovations to Boykin Hall, a 44-year-old science laboratory facility on the Valencia Campus.

The 2019-20 state budget includes the funding for preliminary plans and working drawings for the Boykin renovation project.

The funding comes from Proposition 51, the 2016 statewide facilities construction bond.

Throughout the recent 2019 legislative session, Wilk and Smith advocated for increasing the amount of Prop. 51 funds made available for community college construction projects and worked to ensure College of the Canyons was included for funding in the 2019-20 state budget.

The classrooms and laboratories in Boykin are used to teach physical sciences, biology and chemistry.

The renovation project will encompass all three floors of the building and includes bringing the concrete structure up to current seismic safety standards.

Interior and exterior space will be reallocated to make more efficient use of the facility, and expand work stations to accommodate more students.