The College of Idaho is about to undergo a facelift. The college plans to invest $6.5 million this summer to upgrade its science building.

“Sciences are a landmark program here,” College President Dr. Marv Henberg said. “We have not had a facility that is worthy of our science faculty or students for some years now. We will, thanks to the remodel, and it’s exciting.”

Henberg along with members of the Board of Trustees, and area dignitaries will officially break ground on the renovation of William Judson Boone Hall on the Caldwell campus on June 7.

Currently, the hall houses the majority of the college’s science department, including the Orma J. Smith Museum of Natural History and Whittenberger Planetarium.

Renovations will include replacing the building’s heating, ventilation, electrical, and lighting systems, plus everything else from the roof down to the floor tiles. Seven research labs will also be updated, as well as the hall’s communication system, according to Susan Rowe with the Office of Marketing and Communications. Construction will also bring the facility into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Construction is on the fast track to being completed in August before the start of fall classes. Rowe said two factors propelled the college to begin work now. First, is that construction costs are low. It’s estimated the school is saving $2 million, compared to what it would have cost three years ago. Second, since renovations are taking place over the summer, faculty and students won’t be disrupted.

The revamp of the 42-year-old building is being done by Hoffman Construction of Portland, and is part of a larger collaborative team that includes Erstad Architects and CM Co., both of Boise.