The 10sq m building, which will be installed on the campus as a learning space next year, won the national Sustainable Habitat Construction (Shac) pop-up challenge for its innovative and efficient design.
The building, called Studio56, was conceived by third-year design students Dean Griffiths, Alice Perry, Nina Daniels and Charlotte McKirdy and developed to provide a learning environment for both students and staff.
Mr Griffiths said several of the design elements were about sustainability.
''We used recycled macrocarpa for the exterior and we have heat-transfer panelling on the windows, so when the steel plate heats up, it draws it inside via a fan and heats the interior.
''We also have a water channel running from the roof which drains into a catchment system that feeds the living campus garden.''
Ms McKirdy said winning the award was ''amazing validation'' for their hard work and it felt good being able to give something back to the campus.
''To have actually added something to the campus itself is a pretty unique thing to have done,'' she said.
It will be unveiled within Otago Polytechnic's living campus, which is a community garden, early next year.
It was hoped Studio56 could become a kitset that could be customised.
