Plans for a $20million Otago Polytechnic hall of residence have progressed, with the polytech council approving the proposed building's design.
Otago Polytechnic learning environment director Mike Collins said the target market of the 231-bed facility to be built on 0.6ha of Logan Park land, was an even split of international and domestic students.
The land was bought from the Dunedin City Council for $3million in November last year following public consultation.
The facility would include "dormitories, apartments and studios along with open plan common areas.
"One wing is five storeys high, and the other is four storeys,'' Mr Collins said.
During the holiday period, the building would be available for conferences and external events, he said.
The preliminary design was progressing well and a resource consent application for the building had been lodged with the city council, he said.
The polytechnic council still needed to approve "minor details'' which would be discussed at a council meeting in July.
Construction of the facility was likely to start in October, pending the resource consent approval and discussion by the polytech council, he said.
"We hope to complete the development by the end of 2017 for occupancy at the beginning of 2018.''
Plans for the hall of residence were first raised in 2013, and Ngai Tahu was named as a project partner.
In 2014, Ngai Tahu pulled out, but Mr Collins said the design of the development remained largely the same.
At present, the institution offers two "supervised accommodation'' options - City College and Salmond College - which provide accommodation for University of Otago and polytechnic students.