University of Otago chancellor John Ward turns the first sod at the site of the School of Dentistry's new clinical services building. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
About 50 academic staff attended the ceremony.
Dental faculty dean Prof Paul Brunton said the new building, due to be completed by mid-2018, would further improve the quality of dental students.
''We are aiming to be in the top 10 [dental] schools by 2025.''
A university spokeswoman said contractor Leighs Cockram JV, a joint company made up of Leigh's Construction, of Christchurch, and Australian company Cockram's Construction, would begin construction of the $125 million facility within the next week.