GRAND RAPIDS, MI - One of Grand Valley State University’s busiest dining halls is getting a $7.5 million expansion.

The university’s Board of Trustees on Friday approved the project, which will more than double the size of Kleiner Commons and pave the way for more dining space and the addition of administrative offices.

Andy Beachnau, who oversees student housing at GVSU, said the expansion will alleviate overcrowding a Kleiner and include new dining options.

“It offers a variety of different dining options, locations and places to gather,” he said. “The overall impact will be ‘wow.’”

Related: GVSU raises room and board rates by $120 for 2014-15 school year

Kleiner, built in the 1980s, is located on the north side of GVSU’s Allendale campus and is in close proximity to student housing, making it one of the busiest building on campus.

The project is being funded through university savings accounts.

Housing and dining facility reserves, plus support from GVSU’s food service provider, will fund the $5.5 million needed to cover the dining and food service expansion.

The remaining $2 million for administrative office space will be covered by the university’s campus development fund.

The building will total about 30,000-square-feet once the expansion is complete, up from its current size of 12,000-square-feet.

The project is expected to be completed by August 2014.

Brian McVicar covers education for MLive and The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at bmcvicar@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter