The University of Otago reportedly has plans to construct a multimillion-dollar building in Christchurch.
Plans for a multi-storey building near the existing Otago School of Medicine building at Christchurch Hospital have been approved by the university's council, Stuff reports.
The new building, scheduled to go up in the next five years, is likely to house laboratories, hospital-based departments and office space.
The existing building will be refitted to meet the needs of teachers.
The dean and head of campus of the University of Otago, Christchurch Professor Peter Joyce, said plans for a new building had been in the pipeline for almost 10 years.
No agreements had been signed, he said, but the St Andrews Wilson Parking car park, on the corner of Oxford Tce and Tuam St, was the preferred site, though there were other options.
"It's exciting because it's finally being recognised as a priority and the university has approved plans and the council is saying it's on their list of priority buildings to build over the next five years."
Joyce said staff and students had outgrown the current building with the February earthquake highlighting the department's shortfalls.
The new building, which would likely cost tens of millions, would address the overall needs of the medical department, he said.
