The University of Minnesota Board of Regents Facilities Committee approved a $2.7 million amendment for renovations to the Community-University Health Care Center Thursday.

The majority of the project costs will be covered by a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining amount will be split by the Academic Health Center and funds from a Facilities Management pool. The entire board will vote on the committee’s recommendation at their Friday meeting.                

The clinic, located on Bloomington Ave. near the West Bank campus, provides dental, mental health, and medical care to a certified medically underserved area surrounding the Phillips neighborhood.

Renovations to be completed include installing a storm water retention system, paving a gravel parking lot, and upgrading a laboratory, among others.

Dr. Aaron Friedman, dean of the University medical school said the renovations are necessary to increase patient capacity, improve access into the building, and improve parking.

“Patient volume continues to rise and the programming serves a number of training and student programs in medicine, pharmacy, and physical therapy…” Friedman said in an email.

The clinic is expected to see an 8% patient volume increase in 2013.

“The current facility needs to undergo final transition to a fully efficient building with systems and physical infrastructure in place to reach a greater volume of patients,” said Suzanne Smith, assistant vice president of the University’s Capital Planning and Project Management in an email.

The project is set to begin later this year and is expected to conclude August 2013.