COUNCIL BLUFFS — Despite budget concerns, UI officials received permission from the state Board of Regents to remodel some portions of the Dental Science Building during the regents’ meeting on Thursday.

The first phase of the project is expected to cost around $17 million, and it will include building on the south side of the structure’s parking lot.

Doug True, the UI senior vice president for Finance, said the building is sturdy enough to go ahead with the remodeling.

“The building is structurally sound, and we’ve had two separate assessments of it,” he said.

Restructuring the area is expected to take around five years.

The UI is requesting the expansion because of the growing number of students enrolling in the dental program in recent years.

— by Shane Ersland