Canterbury University is building a new hall of residence to help ease the housing shortage in Christchurch.
Construction is expected to start next year on a new 240 bed complex, which should be completed by early 2015.
It will be built on the university's Dovedale campus near the College of Education.
University's vice chancellor Rod Carr says it wants to add to the housing stock as student numbers grow back to pre-quake levels.
Dr Carr says $180 million has already been spent on campus remediation, and that figure will reach more than $1 billion over the next decade.
He says the university is also looking into short term housing for up to 72 students at Ilam Fields for next year.