The 782sq m single-storey building is now awaiting building consent.
Building plans show the facility will have a frontage along Royal Tce, and will require major earthworks and new retaining walls so that some of the facility can be up to 3m below ground.
The roof profile will also step down as the site slopes away, so it has minimal impact on neighbours.
Principal Jackie Barron said the building would include a drama/dance space, an art studio, a photography suite and some flexible teaching spaces that could be used for a variety of subjects.
''The current spaces we have are too small. Our art and photography spaces, especially, are small and cramped and not really conducive to the best learning environment that we can provide.
''Moving drama over into the new building also allows us to create some really connected spaces.''
The facility will include nine new on-site car parks, which will be located in the southwestern corner of the site (within the lower sports field).
Construction was expected to take up to 12 months.
Mrs Barron did not expect construction noise to affect classes, but said the work would affect use of its sports field.
''We're lucky that we've got the Town Belt, Moana Pool, Prospect Park. We've got some fabulous facilities close by that we'll be able to use.
''We've certainly done as much as we can to minimise any disruption to learning while the building is going on.''
She said planning for the new facility had taken six years.
''We've done a lot of research, staff have visited other schools in Dunedin, the North Island and Melbourne to look at modern learning environments.''
